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GENERAL 
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TERRESTRIAL  AND  CELESTIAL 

GLOBES 


PUBLICATIONS  OF 
THE  HISPANIC  SOCIETY  OF  AMERICA 

No.  86 


7 


Museum  of  The  Hispanic  Society  of  America. 


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THE  HISVA  -'VRiCA 


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TERRESTRIAL  AND  CELESTIAL 

GLOBES 

THEIR  HISTORY  AND  CONSTRUCTION 

INCLUDING  A  CONSIDERATION  OF  THEIR 

VALUE  AS  AIDS  IN  THE  STUDY  OF 

GEOGRAPHY  AND  ASTRONOMY 

BY 

Edward  Luther  Stevenson,  Ph.D.,  LL.D. 

MEMBER  OF 
THE  HISPANIC  SOCIETY  OF  AMERICA 

VOLUME  I 


NEW  HAVEN:  PUBLISHED  FOR 

THE  HISPANIC  SOCIETY  OF  AMERICA  BY  THE 

YALE  UNIVERSITY  PRESS 

LONDON.  HUMPHREY  MILFORD  •  OXFORD  UNIVERSITY  PRESS 

MDCCCCXXI 


•  •    •  I      • 

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COPYRIGHT,    1921,    BY 
THE  HISPANIC  SOCIETY  OF  AMERICA 


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AFFECTIONATELY  DEDICATED 

TO 

MY  WIFE  GRACE 

MY  CHILDREN  KATHARINE  AND  EDWARD 


Table  of  Contents 

PAGE 

List  of  Illustrations xiii 

Foreword xix 

Chapter  I:  Terrestrial  Globes  in  Antiquity     ...  l 

The  beginnings  of  astronomical  and  of  geographical  science. — 
Primitive  attempts  at  map  construction,  as  seen  in  the  Baby- 
lonian plan  of  the  world. — Anaximander  probably  the  first 
scientific  cartographer. — Statements  of  Herodotus. — The  place 
of  Hecataeus,  Hipparchus,  Marinus,  Ptolemy. — The  Romans  as 
map  makers. — The  earliest  beliefs  in  a  globular  earth. — Thales, 
the  Pythagoreans,  Aristotle. — Eratosthenes  and  his  measurements 
of  the  earth. — Crates  probably  the  first  to  construct  a  terrestrial 
globe. — Statements  of  Strabo. — Ptolemy's  statements  concerning 
globes  and  globe  construction. — The  allusions  of  Pliny. 

Chapter  II :  Celestial  Globes  in  Antiquity        ...        14 

Thales'  ideas,  probably  not  a  globe  maker. — Eudoxus. — The 
Atlante  Farnese. — Archimedes. — Allusion  of  Lactantius. — Pap- 
pus' allusions. — Armillary  spheres. — The  astronomer  Hippar- 
chus.— Ptolemy. — Globes  used  for  decorative  purposes  by  the 
Romans. — Roman  coins. — The   Byzantine   Leontius   Mechanicus. 

Chapter  III :  Globes  Constructed  by  the  Arabs       .      .        26 

Followers  of  Ptolemy. — Early  armillary  spheres. — Interest  of  the 
Califs  in  globes  and  astronomical  instruments. — The  record 
of  the  'Fihrist.' — Ibrahim. — Caissar. — Mohammed  ben  Helal. — 
Mohammed  el  Ordhi. — The  Paris  globes. — Ridhwan  Efendi. 

Chapter  IV:  Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes  in  the 

Christian  Middle  Ages 35 

General  attitude  of  the  period  toward  the  theories  of  the  Greeks  and 
the  Romans. — Scripture  statements  as  sources  of  information. — 
Inclination  of  certain  early  writers  to  accept  the  doctrine  of  a 
spherical  earth. — The  particular  attitude  of  Pope  Sylvester  II. — 

[   ix   ] 


Table  of  Contents. 

PAGE 
The  asserted  interest  of  Emperor  Frederick  II  in  scientific 
studies. — Alfonso  the  Wise  and  the  Alfonsian  tables. — Interest- 
ing allusions  in  Alfonso's  work  to  globes  and  globe  construc- 
tion.— Giovanni  Campano  of  Novara  and  the  statements  in  his 
'Tractatis  de  sphera  solida.' — The  attitude  of  Albertus  Magnus, 
Sacrobosco,  Roger  Bacon,  Vincent  of  Beauvais,  Dante. 

Chapter  V :  Globes  Constructed  in  the  Early  Years  of 

the  Great  Geographical  Discoveries     ...        46 

Increasing  interest  in  geographical  discovery  and  maritime  enter- 
prise in  the  fourteenth  and  the  fifteenth  century. — Awakened 
interest  in  globe  construction. — Martin  Behaim  and  his  globe  of 
the  year  1492. — The  Laon  globe. — Christopher  and  Bartholomew 
Columbus  and  their  interest  in  globes. — John  Cabot  and  his 
globe. — Globes  of  Johannes  Stoffler. — Conrad  Celtes  and  his  part 
in  arousing  an  interest  in  globes. 

Chapter  VI :  Globes  of  the  Early  Sixteenth  Century  .        59 

Summary  of  fifteenth  century  globe  characteristics. — Increasing 
interest  in  globes. — Globes  of  Pope  Julius  II. — Friar  Marco 
da  Benevento. — Importance  of  the  Rosselli  family  of  Flor- 
ence.— The  globe  of  Barnaba  Canti. — Friar  Giuliano  Vannelli. — 
Interest  of  Trithemius  in  globes. — The  Bunau  globe. — Wald- 
seemiiller's  map  and  globe. — Liechtenstein  globes. — Biichlin 
reference. — Globus  Mundi. — Welt  Kugel. — Lenox  globe. — Ja- 
gellonicus  globe. — Hauslab. — Green  globe  of  Paris. — Norden- 
skiold  gores. — So-called  Leonardo  da  Vinci  gores. — Boulengier 
gores. — Acton  globes. — Globes  of  Magellan  and  of  del  Cano. — 
Globes  of  Schoner. 

Chapter  VII:  Globes  of  the  Second  Quarter  of  the 

Sixteenth  Century 94 

Globes  indicating  (a)   an  Asiatic  connection  of  the  New  World, 

(b)  globes  expressing  a  doubt  of  such  Old  World  connection, 

(c)  globes  showing  an  independent  position  of  the  New 
World. — Franciscus  Monachus. — Hakluyt's  reference. — The  Gilt 
globe. — Parmentier. — Francesco  Libri. — Nancy  globe. — Globes 
of  Gemma  Frisius. — Robertus  de  Bailly. — Schoner  globe 
of  1533. — Schiepp. — Furtembach. — Paris  Wooden  globe. — Vopel 
globes. — Santa  Cruz. — Hartmann  gores. — Important  globe  of 
Ulpius. — Cardinal  Bembo's  globes. — Mercator's  epoch-making 
activity. — Fracastro. — Ramusio's  references  to  globes. — Gia- 
nclli. — Florence  celestial  globe. 

[   X   ] 


Table  of  Contents. 


PAGE 


Chapter  VIII :  Globes  and  Globe  Makers  of  the  Third 

Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century  .      .      .      .      146 

Revival  of  interest  in  globe  making  in  Italy. — Frangois  De 
Mongenet  of  France  and  the  reprint  of  his  globe  maps  in 
Italy. — Gore  map  of  Antonius  Florianus. — Globe  records  left  by 
Alessandro  Piccolomini. — Ruscelli's  directions  for  globe  con- 
struction.— Reference  to  the  work  of  Sanuto  and  Gonzaga. — 
Armillary  sphere  of  Volpaja. — Excellent  workmanship  in  the 
celestial-terrestrial  globe  of  Christian  Heyden. — Metal  globes 
of  Johannes  Praetorius. — Vasari's  reference  to  the  work  of 
Ignazio  Danti. — The  iron  globe  of  Francisco  Basso. — Armillary 
sphere  of  Giovanni  Barrocci. — The  work  of  Hieronymo  de  Bon- 
compagni. — Emanuele  Filiberto. — Anonymous  globe  of  1575. — 
Laurentian  armillary  spheres. — Small  globes  of  the  Biblioteca 
Nationale  of  Florence. — Mario  Cartaro. 

Chapter  IX:  Globes  and  Globe  Makers  of  the  Last 

Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century       .      .      .      172 

Brief  summary  of  sixteenth-century  globe  making. — The  close  of 
the  century  introducing  us  to  the  great  Dutch  globe  makers. — 
The  clock  maker  Dasypodius. — Peter  and  Philip  Apianus. — The 
armillary  sphere  of  Carlus  Platus. — Roll  and  Reinhold. — Tycho 
Brahe  and  his  influence. — Titon  du  Tillet. — The  terrestrial  globe 
of  Rouen. — Globes  of  Emery  Molyneux. — Globes  of  Biirgi. — 
Ziirich  globe. — Beaker  globes. — Ivory  globe  of  Antonio  Spano. — 
The  Van  Langren  globes. — Santucci. — B.  F.  globe  of  Dresden. 


[xi] 


List  of  Illustrations 

Frontispiece.  Museum  of  The  Hispanic  Society  of  America       Vol.  I 

FIG.  CHAPTER   I  PAGE 

1.  Fragment  Map  of  Egyptian  Gold  Mines.  From  Ckabas    .         1 
1.  Tablet  Representing  Babylonian  World-Plan.  Original  in 

British  Museum,  London  .....  3 

3.  Ptolemy  World   Map.  From   Ebnerianus   manuscript  in 

New  York  Public  Library,  ca.  1466  ....         4 

4.  Sections  of  Peutinger  Tables.  Original  in  Imperial  Li' 

brary,  Vienna         .......         6 

5.  Globe  according  to  Crates.  From  pen  drawing  .  .  7 

6.  Globe  according  to  Strabo.  From  pen  drawing  .  .  9 

CHAPTER  n 

7.  Atlante  Farnese,  ca.  200  B.C.  From  Passari's  Atlas  Fame- 

sianus  ........        14 

8.  Atlante   Farnese   Constellation   Figures.   From  Passari's 

Atlas     .........        16 

9.  Armillary  Sphere  according  to   Ptolemy.  From  original 

Vopel  globe  in  National  Museum,  Washington    .  .        20 

10.  Bosco  Reale  Roman  Fresco,  ca.  50  a.d.  From  original  in 

Metropolitan  Museum,  New  York    ....       22 

11.  Greek  and  Roman  Coins.  From  originals  in  collection  of 

American  Numismatic  Society,  New  York  .  .         6 

12.  Roman  Gems.  From  King's  Antique  Gems  and  Rings      .         6 

CHAPTER  in 

13.  Northern  Hemisphere  of  Globe  by  Mohammed  ben  Helal, 

1275.  From  Dorns  reproduction  of  original  in  London 
Asiatic  Society's  collection         .....        28 

14.  Globe  of  Mohammed  ben  Muwajed  el  Ordhi,  1279.  From 

original  in  Math.  Phys.  Salon,  Dresden       ...       30 

[  xiii  ] 


List  of  Illustrations. 

FIG.  PAGE 

15.  Globe  of  Diemat  Eddin  Mohammed,  1573.  From  original 

in  National  Library,  Paris        .....        32 
15a.  Anonymous  Arabic  Globe,   1635.  From  original  in  Li- 
brary Professor  David  E.  Smith,  New  York      .  .       34 

CHAPTER  IV 

16.  The  Universe  according  to  Cosmas  Indicopleustes,  Sixth 

Century.  From  reproduction  by  Montfaugon       .  .       36 

17.  Cosmas'  Illustration  Confuting  the  Existence  of  Antipodal 

Peoples.  From  reproduction  by  Montfaugon         .  .       37 

18.  Hereford  World  Map,  ca.  1283  .....       38 

19.  The  Earth  Pictured  as  a  Sphere  by  Nicolas  d'Oresme, 

1377.  From  reproduction  in  Santarem's  Atlas       .  .       38 

20.  The  Constellation  Taurus.  From  Rico  y  Sinobas'  repro- 

duction of  Alfonsian  Tables    .....       42 

CHAPTER  V 

21.  Globe  of  Martin  Behaim,    1492.  From  reproduction  of 

original  in  Library  of  the  American  Geographical  Soci- 
ety, New  York       .......       46 

22.  Portrait  of  Martin  Behaim.  From  Ghillany   ...        48 

23.  Globe  of  Martin  Behaim  in  Hemispheres.  From  Ghillany       50 

24.  Lorenzo  Lotto  Portrait  of  Columbus.  From  original  be- 

longing to  James  W .  Ellsworth,  New  York         .  .       52 

25.  Portrait  of  Sebastian  Cabot,  Son  of  John  Cabot.  From 

engraving  by  Rawle       ......       54 

CHAPTER  VI 

26.  Title-page  of  Johann  Schoner's  Terrae  Descriptio,  1518. 

From  original         .......        60 

27.  Second  Title-page  of  Mauro  Fiorentino's  Sphera  Volgare, 

1537.  From  original         .  .  .  .  .  .61 

28.  Holbein's  Ambassadors.  From  original  in  National  Art 

Gallery,  London     .......       62 

29.  Library  of  Escorial.  From  an  old  print  ...       64 

30.  Castle  of  Prince  Waldburg  de  Wolfegg.  From  original 

photograph    ........       66 

31.  World    Map    of    Martin    Waldseemiiller,    1507.    From 

Fischer  and  von  Wiesers  reproduction         ...       68 

[  xiv  ] 


List  of  Illustrations. 

FIG.  PAGE 

32.  Globe  Gores  Attributed  to  Martin  Waldseemiiller,  1509. 

From  original  belonging  to  Prince  Liechtenstein  .  .       70 

33.  Globus  Mundi,  i^og.  From  original      •  •  •  •        73 

34.  Lenox  Globe,  1510.  From  original  in  New  York  Public 

Library  ......••  7^ 

35.  Lenox  Globe  in  Hemispheres.  From  pen  drawing     .  .  72 

36.  Jagellonicus  Globe,  1510.  From  original  in  Cracow  .  74 

37.  Jagellonicus  Globe  in  Hemispheres.  From  reproduction  by 

Estreicher       ........        74 

38.  Green  Globe,   1515.  From  original  in  National  Library^ 

Paris     .........       7" 

39.  Liechtenstein  Globe  Gores,  ca.   1518.  From  original  be- 

longing to  Prince  Liechtenstein  ....        78 

40.  Terrestrial  Globe  Gores  of  Boulengier,  ca.   1518.  From 

original  in  New  York  Public  Library  ...       80 

41.  Portrait  of  Magellan.  From  an  old  print         ...       82 

42.  Portrait  of  Johann  Schoner.  From  an  old  engraving       .       84 

43.  Globe  of  Johann  Schoner  in  Hemispheres,   1515.  From 

original  and  Jomard's  Atlas — pen  drawing  .  .       84 

44.  Western  Hemisphere  of  Johann  Schoner's  Globe,   1520. 

From  Ghillany       .......       86 

44a.  Anonymous   Globe   Gores,  ca.    1540.  From  original  in 

New  York  Public  Library         .....       88 

45.  Stabius  World  Globe  Map,  1515.  From  original  in  Impe- 

rial Library,    Vienna       ......       88 

46.  Northern  Celestial  Hemisphere  of  Albrecht  Diirer.  From 

original  in  Imperial  Library^  Vienna  ...       28 

CHAPTER  Vn 

47.  Bartholomew  Columbus  Sketch  Map,  1506.  From  repro- 

duction by  von  Wieser     ......       95 

48.  Hemispheres  of  Franciscus  Monachus,  1526.  From  his  De 

orbis  situ       .  .  .  •  •  •  •  .96 

49.  Gilt  Globe,  ca.  1528.  From  Harrisse  drawing  after  the 

original  in  National  Library,  Paris    .  .  .  .98 

50.  Nancy  Globe,  ca.  1530.  From  original  in  Nancy  Museum  100 
50a.  Globe  of  Jacob  Stamfer,  1539.  From  original  in  Zurich  100 
50b.  Nancy  Globe  in  Hemispheres.  From  Blau's  reproduction     102 

51.  Portrait  of  Gemma  Frisius.  From  an  old  print         .  .      104 

52.  Terrestrial  Globe  of  Robertus  de  Bailly — Nine  of  twelve 

gores  exhibiting  the  map,   1530.  Redrawn  for  Rosen- 
thal's Catalogue,  No.  J 00         .  -  .  .  .108 

[  XV  ] 


List  of  Illustrations. 

FIG.  PAGE 

53.  Terrestrial   Globe   of   Robertus   de   Bailly,    1530.   From 

original  in  Library  of  J.  P.  Morgan,  New  York  .  .      108 

54.  Schoner's  Terrestrial  Globe,   1533  (Probable).  From  his 

Opera  Mathematica         .  .  .  .  .  .110 

54a.  Schoner's   Celestial  Globe,    1533    (Probable).  From  his 

Opera  Mathematica  .  .  .  .  .  .112 

55.  Paris  Wooden  Globe,   1535.  From  original  in  National 

Library,  Paris       .  .  .  .  .  .  .114 

56.  Vopel  Globe,  1543.  From  original  in  the  Library  of  Con- 

gress,  Washington  .  .  .  .  .  .116 

56a.  Western  Hemisphere  of  Vopel  Terrestrial  Globe.  From 

de  Costa's  drawing  ......        98 

57.  Terrestrial  Globe  of  Euphrosynus   Ulpius,    1541.  From 

original  in  Library  New  York  Historical  Society  .      118 

58.  Western  Hemisphere  of  Ulpius  Globe,   1541.  From  the 

drawing  by  de  Costa        .  .  .  .  .  .119 

59.  Gore  Map  of  Alonso  de  Santa  Cruz,   1542.  From  Dahl- 

grens  reproduction  ......      122 

60.  Portraits   of   Gerhard   Mercator   and   Jodocus   Hondius. 

From  on  old  print  .......      124 

61.  Six  of  Twelve  Terrestrial  Globe  Gores  by  Gerhard  Mer- 

cator, 1541.  From  reproduction  by  van  Raemdonck       .      128 

62.  Terrestrial    Globe    of    Gerhard    Mercator,    1541.    From 

original  in  Astronomical  Museum,  Rome    .  .  .      134 


CHAPTER  VIII 

63.  Terrestrial  Globe  Gores  of  Frangois  de  Mongenet,  1552. 

From  original  in  New  York  Public  Library  .  .148 

64.  Celestial  Globe  Gores  of  Frangois  de   Mongenet,    1552. 

From  original  in  New  York  Public  Library  .  .      150 

65.  Globes   of   Francois   de   Mongenet,    1560,   and   of   Gian 

Francesco  Costa,  1784     .  .  .  .  .  .150 

66.  Globe  Gores  of  Antonius  Florianus,  1555.  From  Lafreri's 

Atlas    .........      152 

67.  Globe  of  Christian  Heyden,  1560.  From  original  in  Math. 

Phys.  Salon,  Dresden      ......      156 

68.  Globe  of  Johannes   Praetorlus,    1566.  From  original  in 

Math.  Phys.  Salon,  Dresden     .  .  .  .  .158 

69.  Terrestrial  Globe  of  Mario  Cartaro,  1577.  From  original 

in  possession  of  Mr.  Reed,  New  York       .  .  .168 

[  xvi  ] 


List  of  Illustrations. 

FIG.  CHAPTER   IX  PAGE 

70.  Strassburg  Clock  and  Globe  of  Conrad  Dasypodius,  1574. 

From  Schzuilgue     .  .  .  .  •  .  .174 

"] I.  FoTtrait  o{  TettT  Apiznus.  From  an  old  print  .  .      176 

72.  Globes  of  Philip  Apianus,  1576.  From  originals  in  K.  B. 

Hof-  u.  Staatsbihliothek,  Munich      ....      178 

73.,  Silver-Gilt  Globe  of  Gerhard  Emmoser,  1573.  From  origi- 
nal in  Metropolitan  Museum,  New  York    .  .  .      180 

74.  Globe  of  George  Roll  and  Johannes  Reinhold,  1586.  From 

original  in  Math.  Phys.  Salon,  Dresden      .  .  .182 

75.  Portrait  of  Tycho  Brahe.  From  an  engraving  by  Kornenip     184 

76.  Interior  of  Tycho  Brahe's  Observatory  at  Uranienburg. 

From  Blaeus  Atlas  .  .  .  .  .  .186 

77.  Globus  Magnus  of  Tycho  Brahe,  1584.  From  his  Astro 

nomiae  Instauratae  Mechanica 

78.  L'Ecuy   Terrestrial    Globe,   ca.    1578 

National  Library,  Paris  . 

79.  Terrestrial  Globe  of  Emery  Molyneux, 

nal  in  Middle  Temple,  London 

80.  Anonymous  Terrestrial  Globe,  ca.  1595 

Landesmuseum,  Ziirich   . 

81.  Globe-Goblet  of  Abraham  Gessner,  ca 

nal  in  Wolf  egg  Castle,  Wolf  egg 

82.  Gold  Globe-Goblet,  ca.    1575.  From   original  in  Metro- 

politan Museum,  New  York    .....      200 

83.  Ivory  Terrestrial  Globe  of  Antonio  Spano,   1593.  From 

original  in  Library  of  J.  P.  Morgan,  New  York  .  .     202 

84.  South  Polar  Region  on  Globe  of  Antonio  Spano.  From 

original  in  Library  of  J.  P.  Morgan,  New  York  .     204 

84a.  South  Polar  Region  on  Globe  of  Jodocus  Hondius,  1600. 
From  original  in  Library  of  Henry  E.  Huntington,  New 
York     .........      204 

85.  Terrestrial  Globe  of  Van  Langren,   1612.  From  original 

in  Royal  Geographical  Society,  Amsterdam  .  .     208 

86.  Armillary   Sphere   of   Antonio    Santucci    (*?),    ca.    1580. 

From   original  in  Library   of  Henry   E.   Huntington, 
New  York     .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .214 

87.  Celestial  Globe  of  B.  F.,  1600.  From  original  in  Math. 

Phys.  Salon,  Dresden       ......     216 

[  xvii  ] 


188 
From   original   in 

190 
1592.  From  origi- 

192 
.  From  original  in 

198 
1600.  From  origi- 

.      200 


List  of  Illustrations. 

CHAP.  TAILPIECES  PAGE 

II.  The  Egyptian  Gnomon.  From  pen  drawing  ...  25 

III.  Arabic  Celestial  Globe.  From  Dorn's  illustration  .          .  34 

V.  Ship.  From  early  portolan  chart           ....  58 

VI.  Honter  Globe.  From  his  Rudimenta  cosmographica        .  93 

VII.  Portuguese  Arms      .......  145 

VIII.  Compass  Rose.  From  Martines  Atlas,  1582  .  .  .171 

IX.  Base  of  Apianus  Globe,  1576     .....  218 


[  xviii  ] 


Foreword. 

HITHERTO  there  has  not  appeared  in  English  a 
detailed  historical  treatise  on  globes  terrestrial 
and  celestial.  The  publications  are  somewhat 
numerous,  it  is  true,  in  which  a  very  general  consideration 
has  been  given  to  the  uses  of  globes,  including  a  reference 
to  their  important  structural  features,  and  to  the  problems 
geographical  and  astronomical  in  the  solution  of  which  they 
may  be  counted  of  service.  There  are  a  few  studies,  critical 
and  historical,  touching  certain  selected  examples  of  the 
early  globe  maker's  handiwork  which  can  be  cited.  Atten- 
tion, for  example,  may  here  be  directed  to  Sir  Clements 
Markham's  valuable  introduction  to  his  excellent  English 
translation  of  Hues'  'Tractatus  de  Globis,'  a  work  originally 
prepared  for  the  purpose  of  furnishing  a  description  of  the 
Molyneaux  globes,  in  which  introduction  he  undertook  "to 
pass  in  review  the  celestial  and  terrestrial  globes  which  pre- 
ceded or  were  contemporaneous  with  the  first  that  were 
made  in  England  (1592)  so  far  as  a  knowledge  of  them  has 
come  down  to  us,"  yet  the  learned  author  cites  but  a  frac- 
tion of  the  many  globes  referred  to  in  the  following  pages. 
In  Ravenstein's  'Behaim,  His  Life  and  His  Globe,'  we  have 
perhaps  the  most  scholarly  treatment  of  its  kind  in  any 
language,  but  the  study  is  limited  to  the  work  of  one  man, 
the  maker  of  the  oldest  extant  terrestrial  globe,  which  is 
dated  1492. 

The  bibliographical  list  which  is  appended  gives  striking 
evidence  that  there  has  been  a  more  or  less  extended  interest 
in  the  general  subject  of  the  use  and  the  construction  of 

[  xix  ] 


Foreword. 

globes  in  France,  in  Germany,  in  England,  and  in  Italy.  The  ^ 
author  makes  in  this  place  special  mention  of  his  indebted- 
ness to  the  studies  of  the  distinguished  Italian  scholar,  Pro- 
fessor Matteo  Fiorini,  adding  that  with  some  propriety  his 
name  might  have  a  place  on  the  title-page.  Had  there  not 
been  a  ready  access  to  his  important  works,  had  the  Italian 
Geographical  Society  not  so  graciously  expressed  to  the 
author  its  willingness  for  the  free  use  of  as  much  of  his 
published  investigations  as  might  be  desired,  for  which  it 
stood  in  the  relation  of  sponsor  publisher,  a  willingness 
which  Fiorini  himself  had  assured  to  any  who  might  have 
access  to  the  printed  results  of  his  studies  within  this  field, 
the  preparation  of  this  work  necessarily  would  have  ex- 
tended over  a  considerable  period  of  time.  Special  mention 
must  be  made  of  his  'Sfere  Terrestri  e  Celesti  di  Autore 
Italiano  oppure  fatte  o  conservate  in  Italia,'  and  of  his  'Sfere 
cosmografiche  e  specialmente  le  Sfere  Terrestri.'  These  works 
have  been  of  very  signal  value  for  the  study  of  the  Italian 
globes  and  globe  makers.  Not  an  inconsiderable  part  of  his 
descriptive  details  has  been  appropriated,  being  given  in 
free  translation  or  in  paraphrase,  quotation  marks  having 
been  omitted.  Special  mention  may  also  here  be  made  of 
Sigmund  Giinther's  interesting  little  volume,  which  he  titles 
'Erd-  und  Himmelsgloben  nach  dem  italienischen  Matteo 
Fiorinis  frei  bearbeitet.'  This  has  been  of  special  value  for 
its  bibliographical  references  and  for  its  short  chapters  on 
globe-gore  construction. 

To  attempt  the  listing,  with  description,  of  all  globes 
known  to  have  been  constructed  from  the  earliest  times  to 
the  close  of  the  eighteenth  century,  the  latter  being  a  some- 
what arbitrary  date,  is  pretentious.  The  fact  is  fully  appre- 
ciated that  in  many  instances  the  description  given  is  all  too 
brief.  Many  of  the  individual  terrestrial  globe  maps  of  the 
period  in  question,  it  should  be  especially  noted,  are  of  the 
greatest  historical  and  scientific  value;  but  to  have  under- 
taken a  more  detailed  and  a  more  critical  study  merely  of 

[    XX    ] 


Foreword. 

those  which  may  be  called  the  most  important  might  well 
have  demanded  far  more  time  and  special  research  than 
could  have  been  fittingly  allowed  for  a  general  survey  such 
as  has  here  been  planned ;  in  such  a  course  we  should  indeed 
have  been  led  afield  from  our  purpose. 

It  had  been  thought  when  this  study  was  first  undertaken 
that  perhaps  as  many  as  one  hundred  existing  examples 
might  be  located,  and  that  in  addition  to  these  not  a  few 
important  references  might  be  found  to  work  actually  done 
but  now  lost.  Instead  of  the  one  hundred,  more  than  eight 
hundred  and  fifty  have  been  listed,  and  from  the  interesting 
experience  in  collecting  material  for  the  work,  the  pleas- 
urable hope  is  entertained  that  the  published  record  of  this 
eifort  will  be  in  some  measure  the  means  of  bringing  to  light 
not  a  score  but  scores  of  other  examples.  Indulging  this  hope 
there  have  been  added  to  each  copy  of  the  book  a  few  blank 
pages  for  the  insertion  of  a  reference  to  any  not  mentioned 
in  the  following  printed  pages.  The  author  begs  in  this  con- 
nection to  add  an  expression  of  his  grateful  appreciation  for 
any  word  which  may  be  sent  to  him  concerning  unmentioned 
examples,  to  the  end  that  in  a  revised  edition  such  exam- 
ples may  be  fittingly  noted.  The  great  war  checked  the 
search  for  existing  examples,  and  prevented  the  inclusion  of 
many  illustrations  which  had  been  promised,  but  these  were 
promises  which  could  not  be  fulfilled. 

An  attempt  has  been  made,  as  before  noted,  to  treat  the 
subject  historically,  beginning  with  the  earliest  references 
to  the  belief  in  a  spherical  earth  and  a  spherical  firmament 
encircling  it.  It  is  not  easy  to  fix,  with  anything  like  a  satis- 
factory measure  of  certainty,  the  beginning  of  globe  con- 
struction ;  very  naturally  it  was  not  until  a  spherical  theory 
concerning  the  heavens  and  the  earth  had  been  accepted, 
and  for  this  we  are  led  back  quite  to  Aristotle  and  beyond, 
back  indeed  to  the  Pythagoreans  if  not  yet  farther.  We 
find  allusions  to  celestial  globes  in  the  days  of  Eudoxus  and 
Archimedes,  to  terrestrial  globes  in  the  days  of  Crates  and 

[  3cxi  ] 


Foreword. 

Hipparchus.  We  find  that  the  Greek  geographer  Strabo 
gives  us  quite  a  definite  word  concerning  their  value  and 
their  construction,  and  that  Ptolemy  is  so  definite  in  his 
references  to  them  as  to  lead  to  a  belief  that  globes  were 
by  no  means  uncommon  instruments  in  his  day,  and  that 
they  were  regarded  of  much  value  in  the  study  of  geography 
and  astronomy,  particularly  of  the  latter  science.  There  is, 
however,  but  one  example  known,  which  has  come  down 
to  us  from  that  ancient  day,  this  a  celestial  globe,  which  is 
noted  below  and  briefly  described  as  the  Famese  globe.  It 
is  of  marble,  and  is  thought  by  some  to  date  from  the  time  of 
Eudoxus,  that  is,  three  hundred  years  before  the  Christian 
era. 

To  the  Mohammedans  belongs  chief  credit  for  keeping 
alive  an  interest  in  astronomical  studies  during  the  so-called 
Christian  middle  ages,  and  we  find  them  interested  in  globe 
construction,  that  is,  in  celestial  globe  construction;  so  far 
as  we  have  knowledge,  it  seems  doubtful  that  they  under- 
took the  construction  of  terrestrial  globes. 

Among  the  Christian  peoples  of  Europe  in  this  same 
period  there  was  not  wanting  an  interest  in  both  geography 
and  astronomy.  We  are  now  learning  that  those  centuries 
were  not  entirely  barren  of  a  certain  interest  in  sciences  other 
than  theological.  In  Justinian's  day,  or  near  it,  one  Leon- 
tius  Mechanicus  busied  himself  in  Constantinople  with 
globe  construction,  and  we  have  left  to  us  his  brief  descrip- 
tive reference  to  his  work.  With  stress  laid,  during  the  many 
centuries  succeeding,  upon  matters  pertaining  to  the  reli- 
gious life,  there  naturally  was  less  concern  than  there  had 
been  in  the  humanistic  days  of  classical  antiquity  as  to 
whether  the  earth  is  spherical  in  form  or  flat  like  a  circular 
disc,  nor  was  it  thought  to  matter  overmuch  as  to  the  form 
of  the  heavens.  Yet  there  was  no  century,  not  even  in  those 
ages  we  happily  are  learning  to  call  no  longer  dark,  that 
geography  and  astronomy  were  not  studied  and  taught,  and 
globes  celestial  as  well  as  armillary  spheres,  if  not  terres- 

[  xxii  ] 


Foreword. 

trial  globes,  were  constructed.  The  Venerable  Bede,  Notker 
Labeo,  Pope  Sylvester  I,  the  Emperor  Frederick  II,  and 
King  Alfonso  of  Castile,  not  to  name  many  others  of  per- 
haps lesser  significance,  displayed  an  interest  in  globes  and 
globe  making. 

The  modern  age  opens  with  an  interest  in  the  expansion 
of  Europe  overland  eastward,  with  this  interest  soon  to  be 
followed  by  greater  enthusiasm  in  transoceanic  expansion. 
With  the  rapidly  increasing  knowledge  concerning  the  hith- 
erto unknown  or  but  little  known  regions  of  the  earth  came 
a  desire  for  better  map  making,  came  an  interest  intelli- 
gently directed  in  the  construction  of  terrestrial  globes  on 
which  the  newly  discovered  parts  might  be  represented  in 
their  relative  positions  as  they  are  on  the  real  spherical 
earth.  To  this  interest  Martin  Behaim  gave  striking  expres- 
sion, producing  in  the  year  1492  his  famous  "Erdapfel" 
referred  to  above  as  the  oldest  extant  terrestrial  globe.  His 
century  closes  with  every  evidence  that  the  spherical  theory, 
as  Aristotle  had  expressed  it  nearly  two  thousand  years 
before,  could  alone  be  accepted  by  geographers,  and  if 
spherical,  the  fact  could  be  most  impressively  taught  by  the 
use  of  a  material  representation,  that  is,  by  means  of  a 
terrestrial  globe. 

The  sixteenth  century  opened  with  a  marvelously  in- 
creased interest  in  geography,  the  result  of  a  climax  reached 
through  the  transoceanic  discoveries  in  which  Columbus  led 
the  way.  If  the  makers  of  plane  maps  became  now  increas- 
ingly active,  so  the  makers  of  globes  were  becoming 
increasingly  numerous,  and  at  first  in  the  countries  of  trans- 
alpine Europe,  Globes  of  metal  with  engraved  maps,  as 
the  Lenox  and  the  Jagellonicus  copper  spheres,  globes  with 
manuscript  maps  covering  a  sphere  of  special  composition, 
as  were  those  of  Schoner,  globes  in  the  preparation  of  which 
engraved  gore  maps  were  employed,  as  the  Waldseemiiller, 
the  Boulengier,  the  Gemma,  and  the  Mercator,  make  their 
appearance  in  ever  increasing  numbers,  the  activity  encour- 

[  xxiii  ] 


Foreword. 

aged  by  those  interested  in  a  scientific  study  of  geography 
and  astronomy,  and  notably  by  seamen,  in  whose  collection 
of  navigator's  instruments  they  were  long  considered  to  be 
of  the  greatest  importance. 

How  the  globe  interest  in  the  several  countries  of  Europe 
found  expression  during  the  sixteenth,  seventeenth,  and 
eighteenth  centuries  is  fully  set  forth  in  the  following 
pages,  with  something  of  an  attempt  at  a  grouping  and  a 
classification  of  the  results,  to  the  end  of  making  more 
clear  the  trend  of  that  interest,  now  quickened,  now 
retarded,  by  certain  temporary  or  permanent  national 
impulses. 

It  is  especially  interesting  to  note  how  a  certain  superior- 
ity in  globe  making  exhibited  itself,  now  in  one  country, 
now  in  another,  with  a  lingering  favor  exhibited  in  Italy 
for  the  manuscript  or  the  metal  globe,  while  in  the  North, 
globes  with  copper  engraved  gore  maps  found  increasing 
favor  from  the  first,  with  a  certain  climax  reached  in  the 
Netherlands  in  the  days  of  Hondius  and  Blaeu. 

In  the  appended  tabulated  list  of  globes  and  globe 
makers,  it  will  be  noted  that  the  makers  have  been  listed 
alphabetically,  that  the  kind  of  globe  has  been  indicated, 
whether  terrestrial,  celestial  or  armillary  sphere,  with  the 
date  given,  though  sometimes  only  approximately,  and  with 
the  diameter  of  each  globe  recorded  in  centimeters,  so  far 
as  obtainable  with  an  acceptable  degree  of  accuracy,  frac- 
tions thereof  being  omitted,  these  same  measurements  being 
repeated  in  the  text  reference  to  each  individual  example 
or  edition. 

The  author  had  been  ambitious  to  include  in  his  illustra- 
tions a  reproduction  of  each  known  example  or  edition, 
showing  at  least  the  general  appearance  of  each,  but  he 
fully  realizes  the  more  or  less  unsatisfactory  character  of  a 
small  print,  and  the  unsatisfactory  results  of  an  attempt  to 
photograph  the  curved  surface  of  a  sphere.  Not  a  few  of 
the  many  examples  would  prove  to  be  of  the  greatest  inter- 

[  xxiv  ] 


Foreword. 

est  and  scientific  value  could  the  entire  map  surface  have 
been  given  in  reproduction  and  in  size  to  be  easily  legible. 
It  however  can  be  readily  understood  how  such  an  under- 
taking was  necessarily  considered  to  be  unpractical.  Out 
of  the  author's  collection  of  about  four  hundred  globe 
photographs,  a  selection  has  been  made  of  those  which  it 
has  been  thought  would  be  most  suitable  for  illustrative 
purposes. 

It  is  hoped  that  the  preliminary  study  herewith  presented 
may  lead  to  a  number  of  independent  and  thorough  investi- 
gations of  important  individual  examples,  to  the  end  of 
clearly  setting  forth  their  great  documentary  value. 

There  have  been  added  to  the  list  of  illustrations  certain 
important  legends  as  they  appear  in  the  original,  likewise 
a  number  of  contemporary  portraits  of  the  distinguished 
globe  and  map  makers  of  the  last  three  centuries.  In  most 
instances  important  legends  have  been  cited  in  the  text  in 
the  exact  language  of  the  original,  to  which,  with  very  few 
exceptions,  a  translation  is  added.  The  critical  student  will 
occasionally  be  somewhat  astounded  at  the  incorrectness  of 
the  language,  Latin,  Italian,  Spanish,  French  or  German,  in 
the  original.  The  translations  into  English,  not  infrequently, 
have  been  made  with  difficulty ;  accordingly  it  will  be  noted 
in  some  instances  that  the  translation  is  conjectural.  No 
attempt  has  been  made  to  correct  errors ;  on  the  contrary,  the 
greatest  care  has  been  exercised  to  adhere  faithfully  to  the 
original  as  given  by  the  map  or  globe  maker. 

The  bibliographical  list  appended  is  full,  but  complete- 
ness is  not  pretended.  Practically  all  of  the  works  cited  have 
been  consulted,  and  care  has  been  taken  to  include  those 
held  to  be  of  the  greatest  importance.  It  will  at  least  serve 
as  a  working  list  for  those  students  who  may  wish  to  make 
further  investigations  within  the  field  under  consideration. 

An  expression  of  sincerest  thanks  is  here  recorded  to  the 
very  many  librarians,  directors  of  museums,  and  private  indi- 
viduals who  have  so  graciously  responded  to  requests  for 

[    XXV    ] 


Foreword. 

information  concerning  the  globes  belonging  to  their  sev- 
eral collections.  The  privilege  so  readily  conceded  for  photo- 
graphing the  several  examples,  and  the  time  and  trouble 
expended  in  having  this  work  of  reproduction  well  done,  are 
nothing  less  than  a  striking  evidence  of  the  kindliest  frater- 
nal spirit  existing  among  those  engaged  in  scientific  and 
literary  pursuits  the  world  over.  To  the  requests  presented 
even  the  antipodes  have  responded. 

In  concluding,  the  author  might  refer  to  his  interest  in 
globes  as  dating  from  his  early  boyhood  days,  when,  in  that 
country  school  in  western  Illinois,  bearing  the  name  Liberty, 
for  it  had  been  established  in  the  first  years  of  the  Civil 
War,  he  studied  his  geography  and  indeed  his  astronomy 
lessons  with  the  aid  of  a  terrestrial  globe  and  an  orrery. 
Can  it  be  that  we  have  revised  our  educational  methods  so 
far  in  this  country  as  practically  to  have  eliminated  the 
intelligent  use  of  aids  so  valuable  in  the  study  of  the 
branches  which  globes  concern?  They  enter  in  fact  but  little 
into  modem  methods  of  instruction.  If  this  work  could  be 
made  to  encourage  their  extensive  use,  and  serve  in  their 
rehabilitation  as  aids  of  inestimable  interest  and  value  in 
geographical  and  astronomical  studies,  it  will  have  served 
the  purpose  which  is  most  pleasing  to  the  author. 


[  xxvi  ] 


Chapter  I 
Terrestrial  Globes  in  Antiquity 

The  beginnings  of  astronomical  and  of  geographical  science. — 
Primitive  attempts  at  map  construction,  as  seen  in  the  Baby- 
lonian plan  of  the  world. — Anaximander  probably  the  first 
scientific  cartographer. — Statements  of  Herodotus. — The  place  of 
Hecataeus,  Hipparchus,  Marinus,  Ptolemy. — The  Romans  as 
map  makers. — The  earliest  beliefs  in  a  globular  earth. — Thales, 
the  Pythagoreans,  Aristotle. — Eratosthenes  and  his  measurements 
of  the  earth. — Crates  probably  the  first  to  construct  a  terrestrial 
globe. — Statements  of  Strabo. — Ptolejny's  statements  concerning 
globes  and  globe  construction. — The  allusions  of  Pliny. 

THE  beginnings  of  the  science  of  astronomy  and  of 
the  science  of  geography  are  traceable  to  a  remote 
antiquity.  The  earliest  records  which  have  come 
down  to  us  out  of  the  cradleland  of  civilization  contain  evi- 
dence that  a  lively  interest  in  celestial  and  terrestrial  phe- 
nomena was  not  wanting  even  in  the  day  of  history's  dawn- 
ing. The  primitive  cultural  folk  of  the  Orient,  dwellers  in  its 
great  plateau  regions,  its  fertile  valleys,  and  its  desert 
stretches  were  wont,  as  we  are  told,  to  watch  the  stars  rise 
nightly  in  the  east,  sweep  across  the  great  vaulted  space 
above,  and  set  in  the  west  as  if  controlled  in  their  apparent 
movement  by  living  spirits.  To  them  this  exhibition  was 
one  marvelous  and  awe-inspiring.  In  the  somewhat  strange 
grouping  of  the  stars  they  early  fancied  they  could  see  the 
forms  of  many  of  the  objects  about  them,  of  many  of  their 
gods  and  heroes,  and  we  find  their  successors  outlining  these 
forms  in  picture  in  their  representations  of  the  heavens  on 

[  1  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

the  material  spheres  which  they  constructed.  Crude  and 
simple,  however,  were  their  astronomical  theories  relative 
to  the  shape,  the  structure,  and  the  magnitude  of  the  great 
universe  in  which  they  found  themselves  placed/ 

Then  too,  as  stated,  there  was  something  of  interest  to 
the  people  of  that  early  day  in  the  simple  problems  of  geog- 
raphy; problems  suggested  by  the  physical  features  of  their 
immediate  environment;  problems  arising  as  they  journeyed 


Fig.  1.  Fragment  Map  of  Egyptian  Gold  Mines. 


for  trade  or  traffic,  or  the  love  of  adventure,  to  regions  now 
near,  now  remote.  Very  ancient  records  tell  us  of  the 
attempts  they  made,  primitive  indeed  most  of  them  were, 
to  sketch  in  general  outline  small  areas  of  the  earth's  sur- 
face, usually  at  first  the  homeland  of  the  map  maker,  but 
to  which  they  added  as  their  knowledge  expanded.  The  early 
Egyptians,  for  example,  as  we  long  have  known,  made  use 
of  rough  outline  drawings  (Fig.   i)'  to  represent  certain 

[    2    ] 


Terrestrial  Globes  in  Antiquity. 

features  of  special  sections  of  their  country,  and  recently 
discovered  tablets  in  the  lower  Mesopotamian  valley  (Fig. 
2)  interestingly  show  us  how  far  advanced  in  the  matter 
of  map  making  the  inhabitants  of  that  land  were  two  thou- 
sand years  before  the  Christian  era.^  We  are  likewise 
assured,  through  references  in  the  literature  of  classical 
antiquity,  that  maps  were  made  by  the  early  Greeks  and 
Romans,  and  perhaps  in  great  numbers  as  their  civilization 


Fig.  2.  Tablet  Representing  Babylonian  World-Plan. 


advanced,  though  none  of  their  productions  have  survived 
to  our  day.  To  the  Greeks  indeed  belongs  the  credit  of  first 
reducing  geography  and  map  making  to  a  real  science.*  No 
recent  discovery  by  archaeologist  or  by  historian,  interesting 
as  many  of  their  discoveries  have  been,  seems  to  warrant  an 
alteration  of  this  statement,  long  accepted  as  fact. 

The  credit  of  being  the  first  scientific  cartographer  has 
been  generally  assigned  to  the  Greek  Anaximander  of 
Miletus  (610-547  B.  C.).'  While  there  is  not  a  detailed 

[  3  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

description  extant  of  the  maps  he  is  reputed  to  have  made, 
we  know  that  he  accepted  the  so-called  Homeric  idea,  that 
the  earth  has  the  form  of  a  circular  disc,®  and  is  surrounded 
by  the  Ocean  Stream,  an  idea  generally  approved  by  the 
Ionic  School  of  Philosophers/  It  is  not  improbable  that  we 
have  an  allusion  to  the  work  of  Anaximander  in  the  His- 
tory of  Herodotus  (484-400*?  B.  C),  wherein  we  are  told 
that  Aristagoras,  the  tyrant  of  Miletus,  when  on  a  mission 
to  Cleomenes,  the  King  of  Sparta,  carried  with  him  "a 
copper  plate  on  which  was  engraved  the  whole  circuit  of 
the  earth,  and  likewise  all  the  Seas  and  Rivers."^  In  another 
passage,  Herodotus  takes  occasion  to  criticise  maps  of  this 
circular  character.  "I  laugh,"  he  says,  "when  I  see  that, 
though  many  before  this  have  drawn  maps  of  the  Earth, 
yet  no  one  has  set  the  matter  forth  in  an  intelligent  way; 
seeing  that  they  draw  the  Ocean  flowing  round  the  Earth, 
which  is  circular  as  if  drawn  with  compasses,  and  they  make 
Asia  equal  in  size  to  Europe.  In  a  few  words  I  shall  declare 
the  size  of  each  division  and  of  what  nature  it  is  as  regards 
outline."^  It  is,  however,  interesting  to  observe  that  the 
father  of  historical  geography  and  of  history  nowhere 
records  his  idea  of  a  properly  constructed  map,  and  further 
that  the  circular  form,  which  he  condemned,  is  one  which 
found  wide  acceptance  even  to  the  close  of  the  middle  ages. 
We  are  not  definitely  informed  as  to  just  the  course  of 
improvement  or  advancement  in  early  scientific  map  making 
among  the  Greeks,  yet  not  a  few  names  are  known  to  us  of 
those  who  made  it  a  matter  of  special  endeavor,  as  they 
specifically  stated,  to  improve  the  work  of  their  predecessors. 
We,  for  example,  are  told  that  Hecataeus  (550-480  B.  C.),^" 
likewise  a  native  of  Miletus,  improved  the  maps  of  Anaxi- 
mander, and  that  scientists  of  his  day  were  astonished  at  his 
results;  that  Dicaearchus  of  Massina  (350-290  B.  C.)"  was 
the  first  to  employ  a  central  line  of  orientation  on  a  map, 
one  passing  through  the  Mediterranean  east  and  west,  and 
that  he  represented  on  his  map  all  the  lands  known  since 

[  4  ] 


£ 

o 

Ph 
CO 


Terrestrial  Globes  in  Antiquity. 

the  expedition  of  Alexander  the  Great  into  the  Far  East; 
and  further,  that  Eratosthenes,  the  librarian  of  Alexandria 
(276-196  B.  C.),^^  was  the  first  to  attempt  a  representation 
of  the  curved  surface  of  the  earth  on  a  plane  in  accord  with 
geometrical  rules.  The  scientific  cartographical  ideas  of 
Eratosthenes  were  further  developed  by  Hipparchus  (180- 
125  B.  C.),"  who  is  generally  referred  to  as.  the  greatest 
astronomer  of  antiquity,  and  by  Marinus  of  Tyre  (fl.  ca. 
100  A.  D.),"  who  introduced  the  idea  of  inscribing  lines  of 
latitude  and  longitude  on  a  map,  crossing  the  same  at  right 
angles,  which  lines  could  be  made  to  serve  the  useful  pur- 
pose of  orientation  and  be  of  assistance  in  giving  proper 
location  to  all  known  places  on  the  earth's  surface. 

Map  making  in  that  early  period  reached  its  climax  in 
the  work  of  Claudius  Ptolemy  of  Alexandria  (ca.  87-150 
A.  D.)."  His  ideas,  however,  seem  not  to  have  found  gen- 
eral favor  with  his  contemporaries,  nor  with  the  geographers 
of  the  middle  ages.  (Fig.  3.)  It  was  not  until  the  so-called 
period  of  great  geographical  discoveries  and  explorations  in 
the  fifteenth  century  that  he  became  a  real  teacher  within 
his  chosen  field. 

Map  making  and  the  science  of  geography  were  continu- 
ously progressive  among  the  Greeks.  Imperial  Rome  wit- 
nessed little  progress  in  either  field.  Among  those  who  wrote 
in  the  Latin  language,  Pomponius  Mela  (fl.  ca.  43  A.  D.)^^ 
and  Pliny  (ca.  23-79  A.  D.)^^  alone  have  rank  of  impor- 
tance. In  the  matter  of  map  construction  the  Romans  held 
to  many  of  the  cruder  methods  and  ideas  of  the  Greeks,  a 
fact  which  we  learn  from  the  fragmentary  references  in 
their  literature,  and  from  the  itinerary  or  road  maps  (Fig. 
4),  of  the  period  of  the  emperors,  which  have  come  down 
to  us.^® 

The  idea  of  a  globular  earth  was  at  first  accepted  by 
the  geographers  of  antiquity  with  some  hesitancy.  That 
Thales  (640-548  B.  C.),"  one  of  the  earliest  astronomers 
and  cosmographers,  openly  supported  this  theory,  as  is  some- 

[  5  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

times  asserted,  is  hardly  probable.  It  is  rather  to  be  assumed 
that  according  to  his  idea  the  earth  has  the  form  of  a  cylin- 
der, and  that  it  moves  within  a  hollow  sphere,  an  idea 
upheld  by  Anaximander,  his  disciple  and  successor,  to  whom 
reference  has  been  made  above.  It  was  the  Pythagorean 
philosophers  who  appear  to  have  first  transferred  to  the 
earth  that  which  had  already  been  accepted  as  a  theory  rela- 
tive to  the  heavens,  including  the  imaginary  circles  and  the 
circular  or  spherical  form,  apparently  arguing  that  the  earth 
is  a  sphere  because  that  is  the  most  perfect  form,  that  it  is 
located  in  the  center  of  the  universe  because  that  is  the 
place  of  honor,  and  that  it  is  at  rest  because  rest  is  more 
dignified  than  motion.'°  It  however  was  Aristotle  who 
undertook,  in  the  manner  of  a  philosopher,  an  elaborate  de- 
fense of  the  Pythagorean  doctrine  of  a  globular  earth,  sup- 
porting his  arguments,  first,  through  a  reference  to  such 
positive  proof  as  may  be  found  in  gravitation  or  "the 
tendency  of  all  particles  of  matter  to  form  themselves  about 
the  middle  and  thus  make  a  sphere,"  and  secondly,  through 
a  reference  to  the  appearance  of  the  earth's  shadow  cast 
during  an  eclipse  of  the  moon.^^  A  third  proof,  so  familiar 
to  us  today,  that  distant  objects  as  we  approach  them  grad- 
ually reveal  themselves  above  the  horizon,  seems  not  to 
have  occurred  to  Aristotle,  but  was  first  employed  by  Strabo. 
"It  is  evident,"  says  the  latter,  "that,  when  persons  on  ship- 
board are  unable  to  see  at  a  distance  lights  which  are  on  a 
level  with  the  eye,  the  cause  of  this  is  the  curvature  of  the 
sea;  for  if  those  lights  are  raised  to  a  higher  level,  they 
become  visible,  even  though  the  distance  is  increased;  and 
in  like  manner,  if  the  beholder  attains  a  greater  elevation 
he  sees  what  was  previously  hidden.  .  .  .  Again,  when  men 
are  approaching  the  land  from  the  sea,  the  parts  nearest 
the  shore-line  come  more  and  more  into  view,  and  objects 
which  at  first  appeared  low  attain  a  greater  elevation. "^^ 

After  the  attempt  had  been  made  to  determine  the  cir- 
cumference of  the  earth,  as  was  done  by  Eratosthenes  with 

[  6  ] 


mm 


I'Mpilwiilliiiii  ■liiiiniliii^^        ' 


Fig.  4.  Sections  of  Peutinger  Tables. 


Fig.  11.  Greek  and  Roman  Coins. 


Fig.  12.  Roman  Gems. 


Terrestrial  Globes  in  Antiquity. 

more  or  less  satisfactory  results,  the  thought,  very  naturally, 
was  suggested  of  making  an  artificial  representation  of  the 
entire  earth,  so  far  as  then  understood,  that  is,  of  making 
a  terrestrial  globe.  There  is  no  intimation,  however,  in  any 
early  allusion  to  Eratosthenes  that  he  was  a  globe  maker, 
or  that  he  knew  anything  about  globe  construction.  We 
know  that  he  thought  of  the  earth  as  a  sphere  placed  in 


Fig.  5.  Globe  according  to  Crates. 


the  center  of  the  universe,  around  which  the  celestial  sphere 
revolves  every  twenty-four  hours.^^  Strabo,  at  a  much  later 
date,  in  referring  to  the  geographical  ideas  of  Eratosthenes, 
censured  him  for  his  unnecessarily  elaborate  proofs  of  the 
earth's  spherical  character,  apparently  thinking  the  fact  one 
too  well  known  to  require  demonstration. 

It  appears  to  have  been  the  grammarian  Crates  of  Mallos, 
a  contemporary  of  Hipparchus,  and  a  member  of  the  Stoic 
School  of  Philosophers,  who  made  the  first  attempt  to  con- 

[  7  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

struct  a  terrestrial  globe  (Fig.  5),  and  that  he  exhibited 
the  same  in  Pergamum,  not  far  from  the  year  150  B.  C.^* 
It  seems  to  have  been  Crates'  idea  that  the  earth's  sur- 
face, when  represented  on  a  sphere,  should  appear  as  divided 
into  four  island-like  habitable  regions.  On  the  one  hemi- 
sphere, which  is  formed  by  a  meridional  plane  cutting  the 
sphere,  lies  our  own  oecumene  or  habitable  world,  and  that 
of  the  Antoecians  in  corresponding  longitude  and  in  opposite 
latitude;  on  the  other  hemisphere  lies  the  oecumene  of  the 
Perioecians  in  our  latitude  and  in  opposite  longitude,  and 
that  of  the  Antipodes  in  latitude  and  longitude  opposite  to 
us.^^  Through  the  formulation  and  expression  of  such  a 
theory  the  idea  of  the  existence  of  an  antipodal  people  was 
put  forth  as  a  speculative  problem,  an  idea  frequently  dis- 
cussed in  the  middle  ages,  and  settled  only  by  the  actual 
discovery  of  antipodal  regions  and  antipodal  peoples  in  the 
day  of  great  transoceanic  discoveries.^"  That  Strabo,  at  a 
later  date,  had  this  Pergamenian  example  in  mind  when 
stating  certain  rules  to  be  observed  in  the  construction  of 
globes  seems  probable,  since  he  makes  mention  of  Crates' 
globe.  Strabo  alone  among  ancient  writers,  so  far  as  we  at 
present  know,  treats  of  terrestrial  globes,  practically  such  as 
we  find  in  use  at  the  present  day.  He  thought  that  a  globe 
to  be  serviceable  should  be  of  large  size,  and  his  reasoning 
can  readily  be  understood,  for  what  at  that  time  was  really 
known  of  the  earth's  surface  was  small  indeed  in  compari- 
son with  what  was  unknown.  Should  one  not  make  use  of  a 
sphere  of  large  dimensions,  the  habitable  regions  (Fig.  6), 
in  comparison  with  the  earth's  entire  surface,  would  occupy 
but  small  space.  What  Strabo  states  in  his  geography  is 
interesting  and  may  here  well  be  cited.  "Whoever  would 
represent  the  real  earth,"  he  says,  "as  near  as  possible  by 
artificial  means,  should  make  a  sphere  like  that  of  Crates, 
and  upon  this  draw  the  quadrilateral  within  which  his  chart 
of  geography  is  to  be  placed.  For  this  purpose  however  a 
large  globe  is  necessary  since  the  section  mentioned,  though 

[  8  ] 


Terrestrial  Globes  in  Antiquity. 

but  a  very  small  portion  of  the  entire  sphere,  must  be  capa- 
ble of  containing  properly  all  the  regions  of  the  habitable 
earth  and  of  presenting  an  accurate  view  of  them  to  those 
who  wish  to  consult  it.  Any  one  who  is  able  will  certainly 
do  well  to  obtain  such  a  globe.  But  it  should  have  a  diameter 
of  not  less  than  ten  feet;  those  who  can  not  obtain  a  globe 
of  this  size,  or  one  nearly  as  large,  had  better  draw  their 
charts  on  a  plane  surface  of  not  less  than  seven  feet.  Draw 


<r' 

^"^>. 

/t^ 

-'"'x'^X 

X^    V 

'  y     rJS 

^-v.       \     "/^^Xx 

/  ^^  ^        ^^?4^ 

Za       r^ 

\  v^^  \ 

RA 

%^ 

^^s?^C\\  ^^\ 

^^-7^^^ 

\        V  \  ^^^^\ 

^4^ 

^^^^- 

^^II^^^^^^ 

--.^___ 

__— — -"^^  -^ 

}m 

^^x^ 

\~"           -  - 

/ ' — ^i^  ^ 

^w 

-^ 

y^ 

^^==^^ 

'^-^^^^'^^ 

Fig.  6.  Globe  according  to  Strabo. 


Straight  lines  for  the  parallels,  and  others  at  right  angles  to 
these.  We  can  easily  imagine  how  the  eye  can  transfer  the 
figure  and  extent  (of  these  lines)  from  a  plane  surface  to 
one  that  is  spherical.  The  meridians  of  each  country  on  the 
globe  have  a  tendency  to  unite  in  a  single  point  at  the  poles ; 
nevertheless  on  the  surface  of  a  plane  map  there  would  be 
no  advantage  if  the  right  lines  alone  which  should  represent 
the  meridians  were  drawn  slightly  to  converge."" 

It  is  not  at  all  improbable  that  Strabo  and  Ptolemy  made 

[  9  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

considerable  advance  in  the  practical  construction  of  terres- 
trial globes,  for  it  seems  reasonable  to  conclude  that  they 
were  in  possession  of  such  objects  when  writing,  as  they  did, 
concerning  them. 

Ptolemy,  we  may  note,  expressly  allowed  that  the  size  of  a 
globe  should  be  that  which  one  might  desire,  and  that  it 
was  not  necessary  it  should  be  of  large  size.  It  was  this 
great  Alexandrian  cosmographer  who  first  demonstrated  the 
scientific  value  of  drawing  on  the  surface  of  a  globe  or  map 
the  network  of  parallels  and  meridians,  and  of  establishing 
by  means  of  the  two  geographical  coordinates  the  true  geo- 
graphical position  of  every  known  place.  To  the  end  of 
making  globes  more  serviceable  he  suggested  the  use  of  a 
meridian  circle,  such  as  is  today  employed  in  globe  con- 
struction, passing  through  both  poles,  within  which  circle 
the  globe  might  be  made  to  move  freely  on  its  axis.  He, 
however,  in  this  connection,  did  not  give  technical  direc- 
tions for  the  construction  of  terrestrial  globes,  but  he  says 
enough  to  assure  us  that  the  art  of  globe  construction  was 
measurably  well  understood  in  his  day,  and  that  the  Greeks 
and  the  Romans  considered  them  very  useful  instruments  in 
the  study  of  the  heavens  and  the  earth. ^^ 

The  allusions  of  the  naturalist  Pliny  (23-79)  ^^  ^^^ 
spherical  shape  of  the  earth  give  us  no  particular  intimation 
that  he  knew  of  the  existence  of  terrestrial  globes,  but  they 
are  interesting  as  indicating  a  belief  of  his  time  in  its 
spherical  form,  a  belief,  judging  from  the  nature  of  the 
argument,  apparently  drawn  from  Aristotle.  Referring  to 
the  shape  of  the  earth,  he  observes  that  "everyone  agrees  it 
has  the  most  perfect  figure.  We  always  speak  of  the  ball  of 
the  earth,  and  we  admit  it  to  be  a  globe  bounded  by  the 
poles.  It  has  not  indeed  the  form  of  an  absolute  sphere,  from 
the  number  of  lofty  mountains  and  flat  plains;  but  if  the 
termination  of  the  lines  be  bound  by  a  curve,  this  would 
compose  a  perfect  sphere.  And  this  we  learn  from  arguments 
drawn  from  the  nature  of  things,  although  not  from  the 

[  10  ] 


Terrestrial  Globes  in  Antiquity. 

same  considerations  which  we  have  made  use  of  with  respect 
to  the  heavens.  For  in  the  heavens  the  hollow  convexity 
everywhere  bends  on  itself  and  leans  upon  the  earth  as  a 
center,  whereas  the  earth  rises  up  solid  and  dense  like  some- 
thing that  swells  up  and  is  protruded  outward.  The  heavens 
bend  toward  the  center,  while  the  earth  goes  out  from  the 
center,  the  continual  rolling  of  the  heavens  about  it  forcing 
its  immense  mass  into  the  form  of  a  sphere."^® 


NOTES 

1.  Most  of  the  larger  general  works  presenting  an  historical  survey  of 
the  science  of  astronomy  give  consideration  to  its  beginnings,  noting  the 
interest  in  the  subject  exhibited  by  the  early  Egyptians,  Assyrians,  Baby- 
lonians, and  by  other  Eastern  peoples.  See  the  introductory  pages  of  such 
works  as  Dalambre,  M.  Histoire  de  I'astronomie  ancienne.  Paris,  1817; 
Lockyer,  J.  N.  The  Dawn  of  Astronomy.  New  York,  1894;  Allan,  H.  A. 
Star  Names  and  their  Meanings ;  Wolf,  R.  Geschichte  der  Astronomic. 
Miinchen,  1877 ;  Madler,  J.  H.  Geschichte  der  Himmelskunde  von  den 
altesten  bis  auf  die  neuste  Zeit.  Braunschweig,  1873.  2  vols.;  Narrien,  J.  N. 
An  Historical  Account  of  Origin  and  Progress  of  Astronomy.  London,  1833. 

2.  Chabas,  F.  Ouvres  diverses  publiees  par  G.  Maspero.  Paris,  1902.  Tome 
deuxieme,  Plate  II,  p.  208,  "Carte  Egyptienne  de  mines  d'or." 

3.  Cuneiform  Texts  from  Babylonian  Tablets,  etc.,  in  British  Museum. 
London,  1906.  Vol.  22,  Plate  48.  This  Babylonian  plan  of  the  world  illus- 
trates the  idea  concerning  the  world  which  was  current  in  the  late  Baby- 
lonian period.  It  represents  the  region  of  Babylonia,  Assyria,  and  the 
neighboring  districts  as  a  circular  plain  surrounded  by  the  Persian  Gulf 
(Ma-ra-tum).  The  city  Babylon  (Babylu)  is  indicated  near  the  center,  and 
next  to  it  the  land  of  Assyria  (Ashshur).  The  position  of  certain  other 
cities  is  indicated.  The  district  toward  the  south,  bordering  the  Persian 
Gulf,  is  represented  as  being  full  of  canals  and  marshes.  Toward  the  north 
is  marked  a  district  which  is  referred  to  as  mountainous.  Beyond  the  circle 
is  represented  the  Persian  Gulf,  and  a  number  of  triangles  pointing  outward 
from  the  circular  zone,  each  being  labeled  "region,"  indicating  a  vague 
conception  concerning  the  same. 

4.  Numerous  works  have  been  published  referring  to  the  geography  of 
the  ancients.  Mention  may  here  be  made  of  the  following  as  being  impor- 
tant. In  each  may  be  found  extensive  bibliographical  references.  Berger,  H. 
Geschichte  der  wissenschaftlichen  Erdkunde  der  Griechen.  Leipzig,  1887- 
1894.  This  work  was  issued  in  four  parts.  Forbiger,  A.  Handbuch  der 
alten  Geographic  nach  den  Quellen  bearbeitet.  Hamburg,  1877 ;  Schmidt, 
M.  C.  P.  Zur  Geschichte  der  geographischen  Litteratur  bei  den  Griechen 

[    11    ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

und  Romcrn.  Berlin,  1887  ;  Bunbury,  E.  H.  History  of  Ancient  Geography. 
London,  1883.  2  vols.;  Tozcr,  H.  F.  A  History  of  Ancient  Geography. 
Cambridge,  1897.  See  also  The  History  of  Herodotus ;  The  Geography  of 
Strabo ;    The    Natural    History    of    Pliny ;    The    Geography    of    Ptolemy. 

5.  Schmidt,  op.  cit.,  p.  12;  Bunbury,  op.  cit.,  Vol.  I,  p.  122;  Berger,  op. 
cit.,  pt.  1,  pp.  8-14. 

6.  Iliad,  XVni,  446-447  ;  XXI,  225-228 ;  Odyssey,  V,  282 ;  XII,  380. 

7.  They  indulged  much  in  speculation  concerning  the  physical  constitution 
of  the  world. 

8.  Herodotus.  Historia.  Bk.  V,  chap.  49.  Citation  from  translation  by 
Macaulay,  G.  C.  The  History  of  Herodotus.  London,  1890.  2  vols. 

9.  Herodotus,  op.  cit.,  Bk.  IV,  chap.  8,  36;  II,  21,  23. 

10.  Bunbury,  op.  cit..  Vol.  I,  chap,  v  ;  Schmidt,  op.  cit.,  p.  13 ;  Berger, 
op.  cit.,  pt.  1. 

11.  Cicero.  Epistolae  ad  Atticum.  vi.  2;  Bunbury,  op.  cit..  Vol.  I,  p.  617. 

12.  Berger,  op.  cit.,  pt.  3;  Bunbury,  op.  cit..  Vol.  I,  chap.  xvi. 

13.  Berger,  op.  cit.,  pt.  3;  Bunbury,  op.  cit.,  Vol.  II,  chap,  xvii,  sec.  1. 

14.  Bunbury,  op.  cit.,  Vol.  II,  chap.  xxvi.  Marinus  is  known  to  us  only 
at  second-hand.  Ptolemy  extols  him  in  the  highest  terms,  but  he  undertook 
to  reform  his  maps  just  as  Marinus  had  undertaken  to  reform  the  maps  of 
his  predecessors. 

15.  Bunbury,  op.  cit..  Vol.  II,  chaps,  xxviii-xxix ;  Mollweide,  S.  Die  Map- 
pierungskunst  des  Ptolemaus.  (In :  Zachs  Monatliche  Korrespondence  zur 
Beforderung  der  Erd-  und  Himmelskunde.  Weimar.  Bd.  11,  pp.  322  ff.)  ; 
Nordenskiold,  A.  E.  Facsimile  Atlas.  Stockholm,  1889.  This  last-named 
work  gives  consideration  to  the  Atlas  of  Ptolemy,  to  the  numerous  editions 
of  his  Geographia,  to  his  geographical  errors.  The  twenty-seven  maps 
printed  in  the  1490  Rome  edition  of  the  Atlas  are  reproduced.  See  also  the 
printed  lists  of  the  editions  of  Ptolemy's  Atlas  by  Eames,  W.,  Winsor,  J., 
Philipps,  P.  L. 

16.  Bunbury,  op.  cit..  Vol.  II,  chap,  xxviii,  sec.  2;  Fink.  Mela  und  seine 
Geographic.  Rosenheim,  l88l.  Mela  titled  his  work,  "De  situ  orbis."  Excel- 
lent tr.  into  English  by  Golding,  Arthur.  London,  1585.  Various  printed 
editions,  first  in   1471. 

17.  Bunbury,  op.  cit.,  Vol.  II,  chap.  xxiv.  Various  editions  of  original; 
various  English  translations.  Pliny  titled  his  work,  "Naturalis  historia." 

18.  Miller,  K.  Die  Wcltkarte  des  Castorius,  genannt  Peutingersche  Tafel. 
Ravcnsburg,  1887 ;  Porena,  F.  Orbis  pictus  d'Agrippa.  Roma,  1883 ;  Des- 
jardins,  E.  La  Table  dc  Peutinger  d'apres  I'original  conserve  a  Vienne. 
Paris,  1896. 

19.  Lewis,  G.  C.  Historical  survey  of  the  Astronomy  of  the  Ancients. 
London,  1862.  pp.  80  ff. ;  Berger,  op.  cit.,  pt.  1. 

20.  Bunbury,  op.  cit..  Vol.  I,  chap,  iv,  sees.  4,  5. 

21.  A  scientific  foundation  for  the  spherical  theory  seems  not  to  ante- 
date Aristotle.  See  especially  his  work,  Dc  Coelo,  Bk.  II,  chap.  14,  and  for 
a  good  translation  of  this  work  by  Taylor,  T.,  bearing  title.  On  the 
Heavens,  from  the  Greek  with  copious  elucidations.  London,  1807.  Plato's 
statement  in  Phaedo  merely  observes  that  the  earth,  if  like  a  ball,  must  be 
suspended  without  support  in  the  interior  of  a  hollow  sphere.  See  also  the 
Book  of  Job,  chap,  xxvi,  v.  7,  where  reference  is  made  to  the  earth  hanging 
upon  nothing.  There  is  here  probably  the  expression  of  an  early  Assyrian 
or  Babylonian  belief  in  a  spherical  earth. 

[    12    ] 


Terrestrial  Globes  in  Antiquity. 

22.  Strabo.  Geographia.  Bk.  I,  chap,  l,  §20.  Sec  translation  by  Jones,  H.  L. 
The  Geography  of  Strabo.  New  York,  1917.  8  vols. 

23.  Bunbury,  op.  cit..  Vol.  I,  pp.  619-620. 

24.  Wachsmuth,  C.  De  Cratte  Mallota.  Leipzig,  i860;  Berger,  H.  Ent- 
wickelung  der  Geographic  dcr  Erdkugel  bei  den  Hellenen.  (In:  Grenz- 
boten.  Vol.  xxxiv,  pp.  408  ff.)  ;  MiillenhofF,  C.  (In:  Deutsche  alterthums- 
kunde.  Berlin,  1895.  p.  248.)  Diodorus  Siculus  attributes  the  discovery  of 
the  use  of  the  globe  to  Atlas  of  Libya. 

25.  Berger.  Gcschichte,  pt.  2,  p.  135  ;  Fricdrich,  R.  Materialien  zur  Be- 
griffsbestimmung  des  Orbis  Terrarum.  Leipzig,  1887. 

26.  A  belief  in  the  existence  of  antipodal  peoples,  very  clearly  was 
accepted  by  Pythagoras,  Eratosthenes,  Crates,  Posidonius,  Aristotle,  Strabo, 
and  later  by  Capella.  Numerous  others  presupposed  the  earth  to  be  globular 
in  shape.  See  Kretschmer,  K.  Die  physische  Erdkundc  im  christlichen 
Mittelalter.  Wien,  1889.  pp.  54-59,  wherein  the  author  gives  consideration 
to  the  doctrine  of  the  antipodes  as  held  in  the  middle  ages.  Berger. 
Gcschichte,  pt.  3,  p.  129,  notes  that  the  idea  of  the  earth's  division  into 
four  parts  or  quarters  persisted  for  centuries  after  Crates'  day,  if  not  among 
scientific  geographers,  at  least  among  those  who  could  be  said  to  have 
possessed  general  culture.  Cleomcdes,  Ampclius,  Nonnus,  and  Eumenius 
mention  the  idea  as  one  to  be  accepted.  See  in  this  connection  the  world 
map  of  Macrobius,  a  reproduction  of  which  may  be  found  in  Nordcnskiold, 
op.  cit.,  pi.  XXXI.  See  also  Miller,  K.  Die  Weltkarte  des  Beatus,  776 
nach  Christus.  Stuttgart,  1895.  p.  28. 

It  was  thought  that  Africa  did  not  extend  to  the  equator,  or  at  least 
was  not  habitable  to  the  equator.  Below  the  equator  there  was  thought  to 
be  water  but  beyond  the  uninhabitable  and  impassable  torrid  zone  a  habit- 
able region.  The  map  of  Lambertus  well  represents  this  early  theory. 
Pomponius  Mela  called  the  inhabitants  of  this  southern  region  "Antich- 
thoni,"  their  country  being  unknown  to  us  because  of  the  torrid  zone  inter- 
vening. Pliny,  and  after  him  Solinus,  says  that  for  a  long  time  the  island 
of  Taprobana  (Ceylon)  was  thought  to  be  the  region  occupied  by  the 
Antichthoni. 

27.  Strabo,  op.  cit.,  Bk.  II,  chap,  v,  §10. 

28.  Ptolemy.  Geographia.  Bk.  I,  chap.  22. 

29.  Pliny,  op.  cit.,  Bk.  II,  chap.  64 ;  Bk.  II,  chap.  2. 


[    13    1 


Chapter  II 
Celestial  Globes  in  Antiquity 

Thales'  ideas,  probably  not  a  globe  maker. — Eudoxus. — The 
Atlante  Farnese. — Archimedes. — Allusion  of  Lactantius. — Pap- 
pus' allusions. — Armillary  spheres. — The  astronomer  Hippar- 
chus. — Ptolemy. — Globes  used  for  decorative  purposes  by  the 
Romans. — Roman  coins. — The  Byzantine  Leontius  Mechanicus. 

THOUGH  we  find  but  an  occasional  reference  to 
terrestrial  globes  in  the  literature  of  classical 
antiquity,  numerous  statements  appear  therein 
which  assure  us  that  celestial  globes,  solid  balls  as  well  as 
armillary  spheres,  were  constructed  in  those  early  centuries, 
for  both  practical  and  ornamental  purposes.  There  exists, 
however,  considerable  uncertainty  as  to  the  exact  character 
of  the  earliest  of  these  globes. 

The  information  we  have  concerning  the  Ionic  School  of 
Philosophers,  of  which  school  Thales  is  reputed  to  have 
been  the  founder,  does  not  give  us  any  satisfactory  evi- 
dence that  attempts  were  made  by  any  of  their  number  at 
a  material  representation  of  their  astronomical  or  geographi- 
cal theories.  They  were  content,  in  the  main,  with  mere 
philosophical  or  cosmical  speculations.  The  statement,  there- 
fore, that  Thales  himself  constructed  a  celestial  globe,  on 
which  to  represent  his  notion  of  the  crystal  sphere,  is  not 
well  authenticated.^ 

While  not  assured  to  us  by  any  positive  statement,  there 
appears  to  be  good  reason  for  believing  the  astronomer 
Eudoxus  of  Cnidos  (409-356  B.  C.)  made  use  of  a  celestial 

[  14  ] 


Fig.  7.  Atlante  Farnese,  ca,  200  B.  C. 


Celestial  Globes  in  Antiquity. 

globe  on  which  to  represent  certain  astronomical  theories 
which  he  entertained."  He  traveled  in  Eg^^pt  in  his  later  life, 
where  he  carried  on  his  studies,  and  where  he  seems  to  have 
learned  the  construction  of  star  catalogues.  On  his  return  to 
his  own  country  he  is  reported  to  have  undertaken  the 
representation  of  the  several  constellations  known  to  him, 
on  a  celestial  sphere.  The  astronomical  poem  of  Aratus 
(fl.  270  B.  C.),^  so  frequently  cited  and  copied  in  follow- 
ing centuries,  is  considered  to  be  a  description  of  the 
constellations  according  to  Eudoxus. 

In  the  Royal  Museum  of  Naples  there  may  be  found  a 
large  marble  celestial  globe,  65  cm.  in  diameter  (Fig.  7), 
which  the  mythical  Atlas  bears  on  his  shoulders,  the  statue 
itself  being  1.86  m.  in  height,  resting  on  one  knee.*  This 
very  interesting  and  artistic  object  was  transferred  to 
Naples  museum  from  the  Famese  Palace  in  Rome,  hence 
is  generally  referred  to  as  the  Atlante  Farnesiano.  Forty- 
two  constellations  are  represented  on  its  surface  (Fig.  8), 
and  the  five  wanting,  including  Ursa  Major  and  Ursa 
Minor,  probably  owe  their  absence  to  the  obliteration  which 
time  has  brought  about.  From  the  position  of  the  several 
constellations,  relative  to  the  intersecting  points  of  the 
ecliptic  with  the  equator,  it  is  thought  that  it  must  have 
been  constructed  at  least  three  hundred  years  before  the 
Christian  era.  It  seems  therefore  to  date  from  about  the 
time  of  Eudoxus,  being  then  the  oldest  extant  globe. 

We  learn  from  Cicero  and  from  other  early  writers  that 
Archimedes  (ca.  287-212  B.  C),  the  celebrated  geometri- 
cian of  Syracuse,  constructed  a  globe  or  contrivance  for  the 
purpose  of  demonstrating  the  movements  of  the  heavenly 
bodies.  Cicero's  statements  imply  that  the  work  of  Archi- 
medes was  well  known  in  his  day,  yet  he  thought  it  merited 
a  special  word  of  commendation  from  himself.  "I  shall  pro- 
pose nothing  new  to  you,"  he  says,  "nor  that  which  I  have 
invented  or  discovered ;  but  I  remember  C.  Sulpicius  Gallus, 
a  very  learned  man,  as  you  know,  when  this  appearance  (in 

[  15  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

the  heavens)  was  spoken  of,  and  he  was,  by  chance,  at  the 
house  of  Marcellus,  who  had  been  consul  with  him,  he 
described  a  globe  among  the  spoils  of  that  opulent  and 
magnificent  city  of  Syracuse,  when  captured,  as  the  only 
thing  among  all  the  spoils  which  he  ordered  to  be  carried 
to  his  own  house ;  about  which  globe  I  have  often  heard,  on 
account  of  the  fame  of  Archimedes,  although  the  work 
itself  was  not  very  remarkable,  for  there  was  another  far 
more  beautiful  and  more  honored  by  the  common  people, 
made  by  the  same  Archimedes,  and  placed  in  the  Temple  of 
Virtue  by  the  same  Marcellus.  But  afterward  when  Gallus 
began  to  explain  scientifically  the  object  of  the  machine,  I 
thought  there  was  more  ingenuity  in  that  Sicilian  than 
human  nature  was  capable  of.  For  Gallus  informed  me  that 
there  was  another  ancient  invention  of  a  solid  and  elabo- 
rately formed  globe  which  was  made  by  Thales,  the 
Milesian,  to  revolve.  And  afterward  the  same  was,  by 
Eudoxus  of  Cnidos,  the  disciple  of  Plato,  adorned  with  the 
fixed  stars  of  heaven,  and  with  every  ornament  and  embel- 
lishment, as  described  by  Eudoxus,  and  was  many  years 
afterward  celebrated  by  Aratus,  not  exactly  in  the  scientific 
language  of  astronomy,  but  with  the  graces  of  poetry.  This 
species  of  globe  indeed,  in  which  the  sun  and  moon  were 
made  to  revolve,  and  five  of  those  stars  which  have  been 
called  travelers,  and  as  it  were  wanderers,  could  not  possibly 
be  exhibited  on  that  solid  sphere.  And  more  especially  was 
that  invention  of  Archimedes  to  be  admired,  for  he  had  so 
contrived  that  one  revolution  of  the  machine  served  some- 
how to  produce  unequal  and  varied  movements  through 
their  different  paths.  For  when  Gallus  set  the  globe  in 
motion,  the  moon  succeeded  the  sun  by  as  many  turns  of 
the  brass  wheel  of  the  machine  as  days  in  the  heavens,  so 
that  the  globe  represented  in  the  heavens  the  same  eclipse 
of  the  sun,  when  the  moon  arrived  at  a  certain  place  or 
point,  as  the  shadow  of  the  earth  did  when  the  sun  shone 
from  the  opposite  region."^ 

[  16  ] 


*  ■  fii/a/i/f-JE  QhiriL'Sobhtujr  lim  CD  drculjjs.liiu  nn-'chJiylF  Tropicus  Cane  riGN Lire  ulusScm 

\  C/i!i.-r  /iffiirc-nttiiJn  maximu'-  m  lutituJim- iji-nJ  .j.iT' jM B KCrh p/ira  yfsK-'rismi  iJoipUantuars'Z 

Cifri^imt /.^irj-.^^uarius .LJhruJji/rc'W\BSt'q:erituri!i.r.5yjlpiih:yJ^e//'//i^        if  Bq^'sus  g £pL^f^S]o 

HctviJcj-u  Ccrotia  &rejUsiiZ-(j/ i-ii ■  iz  Ci/nmu-l4^ndr(»nriiairi  fajsu^pc-a ■ifi'f^r.icc Tjt^cphinjs. 


Fig.  8.  Atlanta  Farnese  Constellation  Figures. 


Celestial  Globes  in  Antiquity. 

Lactantius'  allusion  to  Archimedes,  at  a  later  date,  is 
perhaps  derived  from  Cicero,  but  it  is  none  the  less  interest- 
ing as  indicating  a  belief  that  such  a  globe  had  existed.  In 
his  characteristic  vein  he  refers  to  the  mechanical  device, 
finding  therein  a  support  for  his  theological  arguments. 
"Was  Archimedes  of  Sicily  able  to  contrive  a  likeness  and 
representation  of  the  universe  in  hollow  brass,"  he  inquires, 
"in  which  he  so  arranged  the  sun  and  moon,  that  they 
effected,  as  it  were  every  day,  motions  unequal  and  resem- 
bling the  revolutions  of  the  heavens,  and  that  sphere,  while 
it  revolved,  exhibited  not  only  the  approaches  and  with- 
drawings  of  the  sun  or  the  increase  and  waning  of  the  moon, 
but  also  the  unequal  course  of  the  stars,  whether  fixed  or 
wandering'?  Was  it  then  impossible  for  God  to  plan  and 
create  the  original,  when  the  skill  of  man  was  able  to  repre- 
sent them  by  imitation*?  Would  the  stoic,  therefore,  if  he 
should  have  seen  the  figures  of  the  stars  painted  and  fash- 
ioned in  that  brass,  say  that  they  moved  by  their  own 
design,  and  not  by  the  genius  of  the  artificer^"®  Giinther 
notes  that  at  the  beginning  of  the  seventh  book  of  the  col- 
lection of  Pappus,  geometrician  of  Alexandria,  may  be 
found  a  reference  to  those  skilled  in  mechanical  devices  in 
which  it  is  stated  that  "Mechanicians  are  those  who  under- 
stand how  to  construct  celestial  globes  and  to  represent  the 
heavens  and  the  course  of  the  stars  moving  in  circles  by 
means  of  like  circular  movements  of  water."^  It  has  been 
thought  that  in  this  passage  we  have  a  reference  to  a  globe 
such  as  was  probably  constructed  by  Archimedes,  although 
the  reference  is  not  to  any  particular  example.  It  seems  not 
improbable  that  the  globe  of  Archimedes  was  made  to 
revolve  by  an  hydraulic  contrivance,  and  that  it  resembled 
a  planetarium  or  orrery,^  That  the  science  of  hydrostatics 
had  been  developed  by  Archimedes'  time  to  a  high  degree  is 
very  certain. 

Instruments  for  measuring  angles  and  distances  were  very 
early  employed  in  the  field  of  astronomy  as  well  as  in  the 

[  17  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

field  of  geography.  Of  these  instruments  the  Egyptian  gno- 
mon appears  to  have  been  the  oldest.®  In  its  best  form  it 
consisted  of  a  bowl  having  a  perpendicular  rod  or  staff 
erected  at  the  central  point  of  the  inner  curved  surface.  This 
rod  cast  a  shadow  upon  the  inner  surface  of  the  bowl,  which 
had  been  graduated,  giving  a  reading  in  degrees  which 
furnished  to  the  observer  the  information  desired.  Time 
brought  improvements  and  variations  in  the  construction  of 
simple  instruments  of  this  character.  As  early  as  the  third 
century  before  the  Christian  era,  adjustable  rings,  or  armil- 
lae,  for  example,  were  employed  by  astronomers  to  aid  them 
in  the  solution  of  their  problems,  which  instruments  later 
developed,  as  noted  below,  into  the  more  elaborate  and 
complex  armillary  spheres.  The  simplest  form  of  such  an 
instrument  appears  to  have  been  but  a  single  graduated 
circle.  To  this,  at  a  very  early  date,  a  second  was  added, 
thus  providing  an  instrument  in  which  one  of  the  circles  was 
regarded  as  fixed  in  the  plane  of  the  equator,  the  other, 
intersecting  this  at  right  angles,  served  as  a  meridian  circle, 
being  movable  around  an  axis  which  could  be  called  the 
world  axis,  the  axis  of  the  celestial  sphere,  or  the  axis  of 
the  universe.  The  position  of  a  celestial  body  in  declina- 
tion could  be  determined  on  the  meridian  circle,  and  its 
right  ascension  on  the  fixed  or  horizon  circle.^*^  It  seems 
altogether  probable  that  Eratosthenes  made  use  of  such 
an  instrument  in  his  efforts  to  measure  the  obliquity  of  the 
ecliptic.  He  tells  us  that  in  his  time  one  of  large  dimensions 
hung  in  the  portico  of  the  academy  of  Alexandria. ^^  With 
the  addition  of  other  circles,  and  of  an  adjustable  view- 
tube,  that  more  accurate  and  detailed  measurements  might 
be  made,  this  device,  in  Hipparchus'  day,  came  to  be  known 
as  an  astrolabe,  and,  after  the  addition  of  other  rings  in  later 
years,  to  be  known  as  an  armillary  sphere.  Even  in  this  last 
development  it  was  not  a  true  sphere  on  which  could  be 
represented  the  starry  constellations,  but  an  arrangement  of 
circles  forming  a  sort  of  imaginary  sphere,  the  circles  being 

[  18  ] 


Celestial  Globes  in  Antiquity. 

intended  to  represent  the  relative  position  of  the  principal 
celestial  circles.  This  instrument  seems,  at  first,  to  have  been 
suspended,  when  in  use,  but  later  was  made  to  rest  upon  a 
base,  the  whole  adjusted  to  revolve  around  an  axis  and 
within  a  graduated  horizon  circle.  In  the  earliest  examples, 
the  earth  at  the  center  of  the  circles,  it  represented  the 
Ptolemaic  system  (Fig.  9);  in  the  later  examples,  having 
the  sun  at  the  center,  it  represented  the  Copemican  system. 

It  is  expressly  stated  by  Ptolemy  that  a  celestial  globe 
was  constructed  by  Hipparchus,  who  is  reputed  to  have 
been  the  founder  of  spherical  trigonometr\^,^'  and  Pliny  tells 
us  that  Hipparchus  was  the  inventor  of  the  astrolabe," 
which  statement  probably  means  that  he  greatly  improved 
the  simple  armillae  used  at  an  earlier  date  as  an  instrument 
for  astronomical  calculations. 

Ptolemy,  in  his  'Syntaxis,'  or  'Almagest'  as  it  was  called 
by  the  Arabs,  devoted  a  chapter  to  the  method  of  construct- 
ing, and  to  the  use  of  the  astrolabe,  which  must  have  closely 
resembled  the  armillary  sphere,  describing  therein,  in  terms 
not  altogether  easy  of  comprehension,  its  several  rings  and 
cylinders,  and  the  method  of  adjusting  the  same  for  pur- 
poses of  determining  the  latitude  and  the  longitude  of 
celestial  bodies.  He  tells  us  also  how  to  construct  a  repre- 
sentation of  the  sphere  of  the  fixed  stars  by  means  of  a 
solid  ball,  how  to  place  thereon  the  several  constellations, 
and  how  to  use  the  same  in  the  study  of  astronomical  prob- 
lems. Such  a  globe,  he  says,  "should  be  of  a  dark  color,  that 
it  might  resemble  the  night  and  not  the  day."  His  descrip- 
tion is  detailed  as  to  the  proper  method  of  procedure  in 
marking  the  position  of  the  celestial  circles  on  this  globe, 
in  arranging  the  movable  rings  of  "hard  and  well  polished 
material,"  in  graduating  the  rings  and  adjusting  them  to 
move  about  an  axis  which  is  likewise  an  axis  of  the  globe 
proper.  In  marking  the  position  of  the  fixed  stars,  we  are 
told  that  the  proper  method  is  to  commence  at  some  con- 
stant and  invariable  point  of  a  certain  constellation,  and  he 

[   19  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

suggests  that  the  best  starting  point  is  the  fixed  star  in 
Canis  Major,  that  is,  the  so-called  dog  star,  or  Sirius.  "The 
position  of  the  other  fixed  stars,  as  they  follow  in  the  list, 
could  easily  be  determined,"  he  says,  "by  making  the  globe 
to  turn  upon  the  poles  of  the  zodiac,  thus  bringing  the 
graduated  circle  to  the  proper  point  of  each.  The  stars 
could  be  marked  with  yellow  or  with  such  other  color  as 
one  might  choose,  having  due  regard  for  their  brilliancy 
and  magnitude.  The  outline  of  each  of  the  constellations 
should  be  made  as  simple  as  possible,  indicating  with  light 
strokes,  differing  but  little  in  color  from  that  of  the  surface 
of  the  globe,  the  figures  which  the  stars  in  the  several  con- 
stellations represent,  preserving  in  this  manner  the  chief 
advantage  of  such  representation,  which  should  be  to  make 
the  several  stars  very  prominent  without  destroying,  by 
a  variety  of  color,  the  resemblance  of  the  object  to  the 
truth.  It  will  be  easy  to  make  and  to  retain  a  proper  com- 
parison of  the  stars  if  we  represent  upon  the  sphere  the  real 
appearance  or  magnitude  of  the  several  stars.  While  neither 
the  equator  nor  the  tropics  can  be  represented  on  the  globe, 
it  will  not  be  difficult  to  ascertain  the  proper  position  of 
these  circles.  The  first  could  be  thought  of  as  passing  through 
that  point  on  the  graduated  meridian  circle  which  is  90 
degrees  from  the  poles.  The  points  on  this  meridian  circle 
23  degrees  51  minutes  (sic)  each  side  of  the  equator  will 
indicate  the  position  of  the  tropics,  that  toward  the  north 
the  summer  solstitial  circle,  that  toward  the  south  the 
winter  solstitial  circle.  With  the  revolution  of  the  globe 
from  east  to  west,  as  each  star  passes  under  the  graduated 
meridian  circle,  we  should  be  able  to  ascertain  readily  its 
distance  from  the  equator  or  from  the  tropics."" 

That  the  Romans  especially  interested  themselves  in 
globes,  either  celestial  or  terrestrial,  is  not  at  all  probable, 
because  of  their  very  practical  inclinations.  There  is  evi- 
dence, however,  that  in  the  time  of  the  emperors  celestial 
globes  were  constructed,  especially  in  the  studios  of  sculp- 

[  20  ] 


Fig.  9.  Armillary  Sphere  according  to  Ptolemy. 


Celestial  Globes  in  Antiquity. 

tors,  but  these  were  made  largely  for  decorative  purposes, 
having  therefore  an  artistic  rather  than  a  scientific  value. 
In  the  year  1900  there  was  found  in  a  villa  at  Boscoreale, 
not  far  from  Pompeii,  an  interesting  fresco  (Fig.  10),  this 
being  acquired  by  the  Metropolitan  Museum  of  New  York 
in  the  year  1903.  It  has  been  referred  to  as  a  sundial,  but 
was  clearly  intended  to  represent,  in  outline,  a  globe  exhib- 
iting the  prominent  parallels  and  a  certain  number  of  the 
meridians.  It  is  not  at  all  improbable  that  such  subjects 
were  frequently  selected  for  wall  or  floor  decoration. ^^  It 
appears  that  astrologers  at  times  made  use  of  globes  in  fore- 
casting events.^^  It  may  further  be  noted  that  on  certain 
early  Roman  coins  there  may  be  found  the  representation 
of  a  globe  (Figs.  11,  12),  which  perhaps  had  as  its  prime 
significance  the  representation  of  universal  dominion." 

Not  until  the  day  of  the  Byzantine  Emperors  do  we  meet 
with  a  real  scholar  who  made  a  particular  study  of  such 
astronomical  apparatus,  apparatus  which  he  describes  in  a 
special  treatise.  Among  historical  scholars  the  work  of  Leon- 
tius  Mechanicus  seems  not  to  have  found  the  recognition 
which  it  deserves.^®  He  appears  to  have  been  a  practical 
man,  very  active  within  the  field  concerning  which  he  wrote, 
and  from  his  remarkably  detailed  description  we  are  able 
to  learn  something  of  the  extent  to  which  globe  technique 
was  carried  in  the  days  of  the  early  Eastern  Emperors.  We 
at  any  rate  learn  from  him  that  globes  were  constructed 
in  his  workshop,  which  globes,  in  all  important  respects, 
were  like  those  in  use  at  the  present  time,  being,  for  exam- 
ple, provided  with  a  meridian  circle  adjusted  to  move 
through  notches  in  a  horizon  circle.  The  information 
given  us  by  Leontius,  which  here  follows,  is  in  free  transla- 
tion or  paraphrase  of  his  treatise,  the  whole  being  con- 
densed. He  appears  to  have  been  a  student  of  astronomy, 
as  represented  by  Aratus,  for  he  tells  us  that  he  had  en- 
deavored to  construct  a  globe  on  which  the  constellations 
and  the  circles  could  be  made  to  conform  to  the  records  of 

[  21  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

the  ancient  poet  astronomer.  He  tells  us  further  that  he 
constructed  this  globe  for  Elpidius,  an  estimable  man  of 
letters,  and  one  full  of  zeal  for  study;  that  at  the  time  of 
its  construction,  though  he  had  the  leisure,  he  did  not  pre- 
pare a  description  of  the  globe,  but  on  the  insistence  of  his 
friends  such  description  he  now  proposed  to  write.  This 
appears  to  be  the  raison  d'etre  for  his  treatise.  The  impor- 
tance of  adhering  closely  to  the  statements  of  Aratus  he 
insists  upon,  though  admitting  that  writer's  errors,  being 
convinced  that  most  of  the  globes  of  which  one  had  knowl- 
edge in  his  day  agreed  neither  with  him  nor  with  Ptolemy. 
Leontius  first  directs  attention  to  Aratus'  threefold  plan 
in  describing  the  several  constellations,  in  which  descrip- 
tion that  author  speaks  first  of  the  relation  which  part  bears 
to  part  in  each;  second,  of  the  position  of  each  constella- 
tion relative  to  the  celestial  circles,  as,  for  example,  to  the 
tropics,  and  third,  its  position  in  the  heavens  relative  to 
the  constellations  in  the  zodiac.  He  follows  this  statement 
with  a  somewhat  lengthy  reference  to  the  constellation 
Ophiuchus,  or  the  Serpent,  in  explanation  of  the  method  of 
description.  After  having  the  surface  of  the  globe  portioned 
out  for  the  representation  of  the  several  constellations  and 
the  important  circles,  he  then  proceeds,  as  he  states,  to  con- 
sider the  execution,  by  which  he  means  representing  in 
proper  color  and  outline  the  several  figures,  and  the  mount- 
ing of  the  globe.  Upon  a  properly  constructed  support 
should  first  be  placed  the  horizon  circle,  through  which  a 
second  circle  should  be  made  to  pass;  this  second  circle  will 
serve  as  a  meridian.  These  circles,  he  observes,  will  enclose 
the  ball,  all  the  points  of  the  surface  of  which  should  be 
equally  distant  from  the  inner  surface  of  the  horizon  and 
meridian  circles,  that  is,  there  should  be  a  perfect  adjust- 
ment of  the  enclosing  rings  and  the  enclosed  ball.  The  sur- 
face of  the  sphere  should  be  painted  a  dark  color,  as,  for 
example,  azure.  He  sets  forth,  with  considerable  detail,  the 
proper  method  of  procedure  in  locating  the  several  prin- 

[    :^2    ] 


Fig.  10.  Bosco  Reale  Roman  Fresco,  ca.  50  A.  D. 


Celestial  Globes  in  Antiquity. 

cipal  circles,  each  of  which  should  be  graduated.  The 
zodiac  should  be  divided  into  twelve  parts,  and  the  con- 
stellations belonging  to  each  of  the  several  parts  should  be 
designated  by  name,  beginning  with  Cancer,  following  this 
with  Leo,  Virgo,  and  so  on,  one  after  the  other.  In  giving 
the  globe  a  position  which  actually  conforms  to  the  world, 
the  pole  should  be  set  to  the  north,  and  the  movement  of 
the  sky  can  then  be  imitated  by  turning  the  globe  to  the 
left.  Leontius,  by  way  of  summary  and  definition,  at  the 
conclusion  of  his  treatise,  speaks  of  a  sphere  as  a  solid 
having  a  surface,  from  all  the  points  of  which,  if  straight 
perpendicular  lines  of  equal  length  be  drawn,  they  will 
reach  a  point  within  called  the  center.  This  center  in  the 
great  sphere  of  the  universe  is  the  earth.  The  poles  of  the 
sphere  are  the  extremities  of  the  axis  on  which  it  turns. 
The  horizon  cuts  the  sphere  into  two  hemispheres,  the  one 
superior  and  the  other  inferior  to  the  earth.  The  sky,  which 
is  continually  turning,  encircles  all,  one  half  of  it  being 
above,  the  other  below  the  earth,  which  is  as  far  removed 
from  the  superior  part  of  the  heavens  as  from  the  inferior.^^ 


NOTES 

1.  Cicero's  allusion  to  Thales,  cited  p.  l6,  is  probably  a  reference  to  a 
tradition. 

2.  Wolf,  R.  Geschichte  der  Astronomic.  Miinchen,  1877,  p.  193 ;  Gassendi, 
P.  Opera  Omnia.  Leipzig,  1658.  Vol.  V,  p.  375.  See  statement  by  Cicero, 
cited  below,  p.  17. 

3.  Aratus'  poem  bore  the  title,  "Phaenomena."  See,  for  an  excellent  edi- 
tion of  this  poem.  Prince,  C.  L.  Phenomena.  A  literal  translation  of  the 
astronomy  and  meteorology  of  Aratus.  Lewes,  1895.  In  his  "Bibliographical 
remarks,"  the  translator  refers  to  one  hundred  and  nineteen  editions  of  this 
poem,  dating  from  the  first  printed  at  Bonn  in  the  year  1474.  See  also  n.  19, 
below. 

4.  Passeri,  G.  B.  Atlas  Farnesianus  Marmoreus  insigne  vetustatis  monu- 
mentum.  (In:  Gori,  A.  F.  Thesaurus  gemmarum  antiquarum  astriferarum. 
Firenze,  1750.  Vol.  III.)  ;  Denza,  P.  F.  Globi  cclesti  della  Specola  Vaticana. 
(In:  Publicazioni  della  Specola  Vaticana.  Torino,  1894.  pp.  xx-xxiii.) 

[   23    1 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

5.  Cicero.  De  Republica.  Bk.  I,  chap.  xiv.  The  citation  is  from  the  trans- 
lation by  Hardingham,  G.  G.  The  Republic.  London,   1884. 

6.  Lactantius.  Institutiones  divinae.  Bk.  II,  chap.  v. 

7.  Pappus.  CoUectionum  mathematicarum.  Edited  by  Commandino. 
Urbino,  1588.  Bk.  VII.  See  especially  the  introduction. 

8.  Hultsch,  F.  Uber  den  Himmelsglobus  des  Archimedes.  (In:  Zeitschrift 
fiir  Mathematik  und  Physik.  Leipzig,  1878.  Bd.  22.  Hist.  Litt.  Abteilung, 
p.  106.);  Same  author.  "Archimedes."  (In:  Real-encyklopadie  der  klassis- 
chen  Alterthumswissenschaft.) 

9.  Wolf,  op.  cit.,  pp.  122-124. 

10.  Wolf,  op.  cit.,  pp.  160-166. 

11.  Wolf,  op.  cit.,  p.  130. 

12.  Ptolemy,  C.  Syntaxis.  (Almagest.)  Various  editions.  Bk.  VII,  chap.  1. 
This  work  was  first  printed  in  Venice,  1496 ;  the  first  Greek  text  in  Basel, 
1538.  See  Hues,  Tractatus  de  Globis,  for  an  analysis  of  this  work. 

13.  Pliny.  Historia  Naturalis. 

14.  Ptolemy,  op.  cit.,  Bk.  V,  chap,  i ;  Bk.  VII,  chap,  v  ;  Bk.  VIII,  chap, 
iii.  Ptolemy  mentions  by  name  forty-eight  constellations,  all  of  which  he 
probably  obtained  from  the  earlier  Greeks.  These  constellations,  the  names 
being  still  retained,  are : 


The  Zodiac. 

Aries 

Cancer 

Libra 

Capricornus 

Taurus 

Leo 

Scorpio 

Aquarius 

Gemini 

Virgo 

Sagittarius 

Pisces 

The  Northern 

Hemisphere. 

Andromeda 

Corona 

Lyra 

Ursa  Major 

Aquila 

Cygnus 

Ophiuchus 

Ursa  Minor 

Auriga 

Delphinus 

Pegasus 

Sagitta 

Bootes 

Draco 

Perseus 

Cassiopeia 

Equuleus 

Serpens 

Cepheus 

Hercules 

Triangulum 

The  Southern 

Constellations. 

Ara 

Cetus 

Crater 

Lupus 

Argo  Navis 

Centaurus 

Eridanus 

Orion 

Canis  Major 

Corona  Australis 

Hydra 

Piscis  Australis 

Canis  Minor 

Corvus 

Lepus 

15.  Visconte,  P.  E.  Nota  intorno  ad  un'  antico  globo  celeste  scolpito  in 
marmo  porino.  Roma,  1835 ;  Gaedechens,  R.  Der  marmorne  Himmelsglobus 
des  fiirstlich  Waldechschen  Antikenkabinettes  zu  Arolsen.  Gottingen,  1862. 

16.  Schanz,  M.  Geschichte  der  romischen  Litteratur  bis  zum  Gesetzge- 
bungswerk  des  Kaisers  Justinian.  Miinchen,  1890.  See  p.  75  for  a  reference 
to  the  astrologer  Nigidius  Figulus. 

17.  Coins  on  which  there  appears  a  representation  of  a  globe  were 
numerous.  Attention  may  also  here  be  called  to  the  imperial  insignia,  a 
part  of  which  was  a  globe,  which  the  emperor  was  represented,  in  the 
pictures  of  the  day,  as  holding  in  his  hand.  See  King,  C.  W.  Antique  Gems 
and  Rings.  Vol.  II,  plates  xxvi  and  xxxviii. 

[   24   ] 


Celestial  Globes  in  Antiquity. 

18.  Wcidler,  J.  F.  Historia  astronomiae.  Vitembergae,  1741.  This  author 
is  of  the  opinion  that  Leontius  lived  in  the  eighth  century,  p.  201  ;  Susemihl. 
Geschichte  der  Griechischen  Litteratur  der  alcxandriner  Zeit.  Leipzig,  1891. 
See  Vol.  I,  p.  294,  for  a  statement  of  the  belief  that  Leontius  lived  in  the 
seventh  century. 

19.  Halma,  N.  Les  Phenomenes  d'Aratus  de  Soles,  et  de  Germanicus 
Cesar;  avcc  les  Scholies  de  Theon,  les  catasterismes  d'Eratosthencs  et  la 
sphere  de  Leontius  traduit  .  .  .  par  I'Abbe  N.  Halma.  Gr.  avec  Fr.  Paris, 
1821.  pp.  65-73. 


r' 


^ 


"  .(^^-^^ 


^  s   ^ 


..r^-' 


/ 


[  25  ] 


Chapter  III 
Globes  Constructed  by  the  Arabs 

Followers  of  Ptolemy. — Early  armillary  spheres. — Interest  of  the 
Califs  in  globes  and  astronomical  instruments. — The  record 
of  the  'Fihrist.' — Ibrahim. — Caissar. — Mohammed  ben  Helal. — 
Mohammed  el  Ordhi. — The  Paris  globes. — Ridhwan  Efendi. 

IN  passing  from  the  period  of  classical  antiquity  to  the 
so-called  Christian  middle  ages,  attention  may  first  be 
directed  to  the  activities  of  the  Arabs  in  the  field  of 
astronomy  and  geography,  in  so  far  as  their  activities  had  to 
do  with  the  construction  of  globes.^  The  information  which 
we  have,  concerning  their  astronomical  studies  in  particular, 
is  more  detailed  than  is  that  which  has  come  down  to  us 
respecting  any  other  peoples  who  may  have  been  interested 
in  these  centuries  in  the  same  field  of  study. 

Doubt  may  be  expressed  at  the  outset  that  the  Arabs 
were  interested  in  the  construction  of  terrestrial  globes,  since 
with  the  matter  of  descriptive  geography  they  appear  to 
have  been  ver}^  little  concerned,  a  fact  which  their  imperfect 
cartographical  attempts  clearly  demonstrate.^  Although  the 
theory  of  a  globular  earth  was  early  accepted  by  their 
learned  men,^  there  is  scarcely  a  trustworthy  allusion  in 
literature  to  Arabic  terrestrial  globes  which  can  be  cited.  An 
occasional  reference,  however,  has  been  made  by  modern 
writers  to  a  globe  said  to  have  been  constructed  for  King 
Roger  of  Sicily.  Without  citing  his  authority,  Freyheer 
F.  V.  Zach  states  that  "the  oldest  terrestrial  globe  which  is 
known  was  made  for  King  Roger  II  of  Sicily  in  the  twelfth 

[  26  ] 


Globes  Constructed  by  the  Arabs. 

century,  and  is  especially  remarkable  for  the  value  of  the 
metal  which  was  used  in  its  construction,  this  being  400 
pounds  of  silver.  A  knowledge  of  this  globe  would  not  have 
come  down  to  our  day  had  not  Edrisi,  a  famous  geographer 
of  that  time,  given  an  especial  description  of  the  same,  under 
the  title  Nothatol  mostak  (Pleasure  of  the  Soul)."*  It  is 
probable  that  the  reference  here  is  to  a  circular  disc  made  by 
Edrisi,  or  an  armillary  sphere,  but  not  to  a  terrestrial  globe.^ 

As  to  Arabic  celestial  globes,  a  different  situation  presents 
itself.  It  is  well  known  that  the  inhabitants  of  Arabia,  long 
before  the  time  of  Islam,  were  in  the  habit  of  observing  the 
stars,  many  of  which,  as  Dom  has  noted,  they  knew  and 
designated  by  names  taken  from  pastoral  life,  and  several 
of  which  they  worshiped  as  visible  gods.® 

Calif  al-Mansur,  who  began  his  reign  in  754  A.  D., 
appears  to  have  been  the  first  to  show  a  decided  taste  for 
astronomical  science,  and  for  many  centuries  following  him 
this  interest  is  strikingly  pronounced  among  the  people  of 
his  country.^  Scholars  were  eagerly  attracted  to  the  works 
of  Ptolemy,  which  were  many  times  translated  into  Arabic, 
and  commentaries  were  written  upon  his  description  of  the 
names  and  figures  of  the  several  constellations.  The  only 
alteration  they  allowed  themselves  to  make  in  the  names  of 
the  stars  was  to  translate  them  into  their  own  language,  or  to 
substitute  for  those  they  could  not  understand  other  names 
that  conveyed  an  idea  to  their  minds,  applicable  to  the  con- 
stellation before  the  eyes.  Andromeda  they  called  "The 
Chained  Lady";  Cassiopeia  they  called  "The  Lady  in  the 
Chair" ;  Orion  received  the  name  "The  Giant."  They  fol- 
lowed in  the  construction  of  their  armillary  spheres  and 
celestial  globes  the  description  laid  down  in  Ptolemy's 
'Syntaxis,'  modifying  these  astronomical  instruments,  from 
time  to  time,  as  their  studies  directed  them.* 

The  list  of  califs  interested  in  astronomy  is  a  long  one, 
both  of  those  who  remained  in  the  original  homeland,  and 
of  those  who  went  to  the  new  home  in  the  Iberian  Penin- 

[  27  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

sula.®  The  Mohammedan  Hulagu  Khan,  for  example, 
erected,  about  1264,  an  observatory  in  his  Mongol  capital, 
Maragha,  near  Tabriz,  which  long  remained  a  noted  center 
for  astronomical  studies/*^  This  observatory,  however,  was 
but  one  of  a  number  of  similar  institutions  erected  either  by 
the  Arabs  or  by  the  Persians.  We  are  told  that  the  construc- 
tion of  astronomical  instruments  was  brought  to  a  high 
degree  of  perfection  by  these  peoples  in  the  thirteenth  cen- 
tury." The  names  of  many  of  the  Arabic  astronomers  who 
were  particularly  expert  as  globe  makers  are  recorded,  and 
there  were  many  who  wrote  on  the  subject  of  celestial 
spheres,  armillary  spheres,  and  astrolabes,  even  before  the 
tenth  century.^"  The  author  of  the  'Fihrist,'  Ibn  Abi  Ja'kub 
an-Nadim,  tells  us  that  Kurra  ben  Kamita  al-Harrani  con- 
structed a  globe  which  he  himself  had  seen."  This,  he  says, 
was  made  of  unbleached  material  from  Dabik,  and  colored, 
but  that  the  colors  were  much  faded.  Ibn  Alnabdi,  who  was 
known  as  a  clever  mechanic,  mentions  two  globes  which  he 
had  examined  and  admired  for  their  excellency  of  execu- 
tion, in  the  public  library  of  Kahira,  in  the  year  1043.  One 
of  these  globes,  he  says,  was  made  of  brass,  by  Ptolemy 
himself;  the  other,  of  silver,  was  constructed  by  Abul 
Hassan  Alsufi,  for  the  immediate  use  of  the  king,  Adad 
Eddoula." 

As  a  visible  evidence  of  the  interest  of  the  Arabs  in 
astronomical  science,  and  of  their  skill  in  the  construction 
of  astronomical  instruments,  we  have  preserved  to  us,  be- 
sides numerous  astrolabes,  no  less  than  seven  globes,  known 
to  have  been  constructed  prior  to  the  year  1600.  The  oldest 
one  extant  is  now  in  the  possession  of  the  R.  Istituto  di 
Studi  Superior!  of  Florence,  Italy.^^  This  fine  example  of 
the  skill  which  was  attained  by  the  instrument  makers  of 
Valencia,  Spain,  at  one  time  a  flourishing  center  of  Arabic 
culture,  appears  to  date  from  the  second  half  of  the  eleventh 
century.  According  to  an  inscription  on  the  globe,  we  learn 
that  it  was  made  at  Valencia  by  Ibrahim  Ibn  Said-as-Sahli, 

[  28'] 


Fig.  13.  Northern  Hemisphere  of  Globe  by 
Mohammed  ben  Helal,  1275. 


^^Vnmgwttg  (PfifiqKmmom^  cum  cntocerim  mtngini^ug  ^oDutri . 


Fig.  46.  Northern  Celestial  Hemisphere  of  Albrecht  Diirer. 


Globes  Constructed  by  the  Arabs. 

in  the  year  473  of  the  Hegira,  a  date  equivalent  to  1080 
A.  D.  This  date  Professor  Meucci  finds  confirmed  by  a  care- 
ful study  of  the  position  of  the  stars  represented  on  the 
globe.  He  notes,  for  example,  that  the  star  Regulus  had 
been  placed  at  a  distance  of  16  degrees  40  minutes  from 
the  sign  of  Leo.  Ptolemy,  in  the  year  140  A.  D.,  gave  this 
distance  as  2  degrees  30  minutes.  According  to  Albaregnius, 
this  star  advances  about  one  degree  every  sixty-six  years. 
Since  140  A.  D.  the  star,  therefore,  would  have  moved 
14  degrees  10  minutes,  which  fact  would  lead  astronomers 
to  place  this  star,  about  1080,  as  it  appears  on  the  globe. 
The  globe  is  of  brass,  20  cm.  in  diameter,  having  engraved 
on  its  surface  forty-seven  constellations,  as  given  by 
Ptolemy,  omitting  only  the  Cup,  with  1042  stars,  each  with 
its  respective  magnitude  indicated. 

A  second  Arabic  celestial  globe,  which  dates  from  the 
year  1225,  has  been  described  in  detail  in  a  monograph  by 
Assemani,  which  he  issued  in  the  year  1790.^^  This  remark- 
ably interesting  object  belonged,  at  the  time,  to  the  exten- 
sive and  celebrated  collection  of  antiquities  and  curiosities 
of  Cardinal  Borgia,  in  Velletri,  but  may  now  be  found  in 
the  Museo  Nazionale  of  Naples.  It  is  composed  of  two 
brass  hemispheres,  having  both  horizon  and  meridian  circles, 
the  whole  resting  upon  four  supporting  feet.  A  Cufic  inscrip- 
tion tells  us  that  it  was  made  by  Caissar  ben  Abul  Casem 
ben  Mosafer  Alabiaki  Alhanefi,  in  the  year  of  the  Hegira 
622.  Caissar  probably  was  an  astronomer  at  the  court  of 
Cairo,  and  the  Mohammedan  date  as  given,  translated  into 
Christian  reckoning,  gives  us  the  year  1225. 

In  the  year  1829  Dorn  published  a  detailed  description 
of  an  Arabic  globe  which  had  been  deposited  in  the  museum 
of  the  Asiatic  Society  of  London  (Fig.  13)  by  Sir  John 
Malcolm.^^  It  is  of  brass,  has  a  diameter  of  24  cm.,  and  is 
furnished  with  a  substantial  mounting.  The  peculiar  fea- 
tures of  the  figures  which  represent  the  several  constella- 
tions suggest  Persian  workmanship.  In  the  vicinity  of  the 

[  29  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

south  pole  is  an  inscription  in  Cufic  characters,  telling  us 
that  it  was  "Made  by  the  most  humble  in  the  supreme  god, 
Mohammed  ben  Helal,  the  astronomer  of  Monsul,  in  the 
year  of  the  Hegira  674."  This  year  answers  to  the  year  1275 
of  the  Christian  era,  that  is,  it  was  constructed  about  the 
same  time  as  the  Borgian  globe  and  that  belonging  to  the 
Dresden  collection,  briefly  described  below.  Forty-seven 
constellations  are  represented.  On  the  horizon  circle,  in  their 
respective  places,  we  find  engraved  the  words,  "East," 
"West,"  "South,"  "North." 

The  Arabic  globe,  to  be  found  in  the  Mathematical  Salon 
of  Dresden  (Fig.  14),  has  proved  to  be  one  of  much  inter- 
est and  scientific  value  to  students  of  astronomy .^^  Bode, 
who  described  it  in  the  year  1808,  refers  to  its  remarkably 
fine  execution  and  to  its  Cuiic  inscriptions  as  being  among  the 
finest  extant  specimens  of  early  Arabic  writing.  The  sphere 
is  of  brass,  having  a  diameter  of  14  cm.,  and  is  composed  of 
two  parts,  separable  on  the  line  of  the  ecliptic.  It  has  a 
brass  horizon  circle,  on  which  is  engraved  at  the  east  the 
word  "rising,"  and  at  the  west  the  word  "setting."  It  is  not 
supplied  with  a  movable  meridian  circle,  but  within  the 
horizon  circle,  from  north  to  south,  and  from  east  to  west, 
there  are  two  brass  half  circles,  of  the  same  diameter  as  the 
horizon  circle  and  so  adjusted  as  to  form  one  piece  with  it. 
Through  such  an  arrangement  it  is  made  possible  to  turn 
the  globe  in  any  desired  direction,  one  half  of  it  being  at  all 
times  above  the  horizon.  In  addition  to  the  above  arrange- 
ment, there  are  two  movable  half  circles,  attached  at  the 
zenith  point  by  a  pivot.  These  half  circles  are  graduated, 
and  are  movable,  making  it  possible  to  find,  by  means  of 
them,  the  declination  and  right  ascension  of  any  star.  The 
base,  which  must  be  comparatively  modern,  consists  of  a 
circular  plate,  from  which  rise  four  turned  support  columns, 
attached  at  their  upper  extremities  to  the  two  half  circles 
of  brass,  on  which  rests  the  horizon  circle. 

The  date  of  construction  cannot  be  far  from  1279,  which 

[  30  ] 


Fig.  14.  Globe  of  Mohammed  ben  Muwajed  el  Ordhi,  1279, 


Globes  Constructed  by  the  Arabs. 

is  determinable  from  the  position  of  the  stars  engraved 
thereon,  relative,  for  example,  to  the  equinoctial  points. 
The  maker's  name,  "Mohammed  ben  Muwajed  el  Ordhi," 
appears  near  the  constellation  Ursa  Major,  and  is  inlaid  in 
silver.  There  appear,  very  artistically  engraved,  the  lines 
representing  the  principal  circles,  the  outlines  of  the  several 
constellations,  with  their  names,  some  of  these  being  inlaid 
with  silver,  some  with  gold.  The  equator  and  the  ecliptic 
are  represented  on  the  surface  of  the  sphere,  each  by  two 
engraved  parallel  lines,  and  are  graduated,  the  graduation 
in  each  instance  being  represented  by  four  short  and  one 
long  line,  alternating  thus  by  fives  throughout  the  entire 
three  hundred  and  sixty  degrees.  The  equator  is  inlaid  with 
gold,  the  other  circles  with  silver.  The  names  of  the  twelve 
constellations  in  the  zodiac  are  alternately  inlaid  with  gold 
and  silver,  while  all  star  names,  except  as  indicated,  are 
inlaid  with  silver.  The  constellations  represented  number 
forty-eight,  the  human  figures  all  being  clad,  turning  the 
front  and  right  face  toward  the  observer. 

The  Bibliotheque  Nationale  of  Paris  possesses  two  ancient 
Arabic  globes,  one  of  which,  neither  signed  nor  dated,  has 
been  thought  to  have  been  constructed  in  the  eleventh  cen- 
tury.^^  This  was  obtained  by  Jomard,  in  Egypt,  more  than 
sixty  years  ago.  It  has  a  diameter  of  about  19  cm.,  is  fur- 
nished with  a  horizon  circle,  which  is  upheld  by  four  semi- 
circular arms,  these,  in  turn,  resting  upon  a  base  composed 
of  four  flat  and  rather  inartistic  supports.  The  engraving 
on  the  surface  of  the  brass  sphere  closely  resembles  that  on 
the  Dresden  globe.  A  detailed  description  of  this  globe  has 
not  been  obtainable. 

A  second  Paris  Arabic  globe,^°  like  the  preceding,  belongs 
to  the  Bibliotheque  Nationale  (Fig.  15).  It  has  a  diameter 
of  something  less  than  15  cm.,  and  was  constructed  by 
Diemat  Eddin  Mohammed,  in  the  year  of  the  Hegira  981, 
which  in  the  Christian  reckoning  corresponds  to  the  year 

1573. 

[  31  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

The  Imperial  Library  of  Petrograd  possesses  an  Arabic 
globe,  constructed  in  the  year  1701.^^  It  is  described  by 
Dom  as  a  fine  example  of  the  globe  maker's  art,  closely 
resembling,  in  its  general  features,  the  Arabic  globe  in  the 
collection  of  the  Royal  Asiatic  Society  of  London.  It  has  a 
diameter  of  about  19  cm.,  rests  upon  an  ornamental  tripod 
base,  and  is  adjusted  to  turn  within  a  brass  circle,  which  cir- 
cle is  fitted  into  a  larger  one,  so  marked  and  graduated  as  to 
represent  four  concentric  circles.  The  first  or  inner  circle, 
representing  the  horizon,  is  divided  into  thirty-six  divisions 
of  ten  degrees  each;  on  the  second  circle  the  degrees  are 
indicated  by  letters;  on  the  third  circle  appear  the  twelve 
signs  of  the  zodiac  and  the  four  principal  directions,  east, 
west,  north,  south;  the  fourth  circle  is  divided  into  thirty- 
six  parts,  formed  by  the  extension  of  the  lines  which  divide 
the  first,  or  horizon  circle,  into  thirty-six  parts.  On  the  last 
circle  the  names  of  one  hundred  and  four  cities  and  countries 
are  given.  Not  far  from  the  north  pole  is  an  inscription 
which  gives  us  the  name  of  the  maker  and  the  date  of  con- 
struction. Therein  we  read  that  it  was  completed  in  the  year 
1113  of  the  flight  of  the  Prophet,  or  in  the  year  1701  of 
Christian  reckoning,  by  Ridhwan,  for  Maulana  Hassan 
Efendi,  who,  toward  the  end  of  the  seventeenth  century, 
was  director  of  the  astronomical  observatory  of  Cairo,  and 
gave  substantial  encouragement  to  makers  of  globes  and  of 
other  instruments  employed  in  astronomical  studies.  The 
equator,  the  ecliptic,  and  the  parallels  are  represented,  the 
first  two  by  parallel  circles  which  are  crossed  or  joined  by 
lines  dividing  them  into  seventy-two  principal  parts,  each 
part  being  again  subdivided  into  fifths.  The  close  resem- 
blance of  this  example  to  the  earlier  known  Arabic  globes 
suggests  that  there  was  little,  if  any,  progress  among  those 
peoples  in  the  art  of  globe  construction  since  the  eleventh 
century. 


[  32  ] 


Globes  Constructed  by  the  Arabs. 
NOTES 

1.  Delambre,  J.  B.  J.  Histoire  de  I'Astronomie  ancienne.  Paris,  1817. 
See  Vol.  I,  pp.  372,  516,  containing  references  to  globes,  celestial  and  terres- 
trial, constructed  in  India  and  in  China  about  the  years  450  and  724  A.  D. 

2.  Peschel,  O.  Geschichte  der  Erdkunde  bis  auf  C.  Ritter  und  A.  V. 
Humboldt.  Berlin,  1877.  See  pp.  145-160,  wherein  reference  is  made  to  their 
lack  of  interest  in  descriptive  geography ;  Beazley.  Dawn  of  Modern  Geog- 
raphy. Vol.  I,  chap.  vii. 

3.  Giinther,  S.  Studien  zur  Geschichte  der  mathematischen  und  physika- 
lischen  Geographie.  Halle,  1877.  Heft  2  ;  Ibn  Abi  Ja'kub  an-Nadim.  Katab 
al-Fihrist  (Book  of  Records),  ed.  by  Gustav  Flugel.  Leipzig,  1871-1872. 
2  vols.  The  greater  part  of  this  Arabic  work  was  written  about  the  year 
987  A.  D.  Edrisi  states  it  as  "the  opinion  of  philosophers,  of  illustrious 
savants,  and  of  skilled  observers  in  the  knowledge  of  celestial  bodies,  that 
the  earth  is  round  as  a  sphere."  See  Edrisi,  Geography,  tr.  de  I'Arabe  en 
frangais  par  P.  Amedee  Jaubert.  (In:  Receuel  de  voyages  et  de  memoires. 
Paris,  1830.  2  vols.)  Vol.  I,  p.  1. 

4.  Zach,  F.  V.  Monatliche  Korrespondenz.  Gotha,  1806.  Vol.  XIII,  p. 
157;  Suter,  H.  Das  Mathematiker-Verzeichniss  im  Fihrist.  (In:  Zeitschrift 
fiir  Mathematik  un  Physik.  Leipzig,  1892.)  This  work  contains  many  ref- 
erences to  distinguished  oriental  scholars  who  treated  in  their  writings  the 
doctrine  of  the  sphere,  the  astrolabe,  and  the  armillary  sphere. 

5.  Wittstein,  T.  Historisch-astronomische  Fragmente  aus  der  arabischen 
Litteratur.  (In:  Abhandlungcn  zur  Geschichte  der  Mathematik.  Leipzig, 
1892.  Heft  6,  p.  98.)  The  opinion  is  here  expressed  that  a  terrestrial  globe 
by  Edrisi  never  existed ;  Hadradauer,  C.  v.  Die  Feldzeugmeister  Ritter  von 
Hauslabische  Kartensammlung.  (In :  Mitteilungen  der  K.  K.  Geographische 
Gesellschaft  zu  Wien.  Wien,  1886.  Neue  Folge  19,  pp.  387-388.)  The 
opinion  is  expressed  that  Edrisi  constructed  a  planisphere  and  not  a  globe. 
Amari,  M.  Storia  dei  Musulmani  di  Sicilia.  Firenze,  1868.  pp.  453  ff.,  669  ff. 

6.  Dorn,  B.  Description  of  an  Arabic  celestial  globe.  (In:  Transactions 
of  the  Royal  Asiatic  Society.  London,  1829.  Vol.  II,  pp.  371-392.) 

7.  Dorn,  op.  cit. 

8.  Dorn,  op.  cit. 

9.  See  the  list  as  given  in  the  Fihrist,  referred  to  in  note  4.  Naser  ben 
Mohamed  Abul  Gioush,  King  of  Castile,  is  referred  to  as  having  been 
much  interested  in  astronomy,  in  which  science  he  acquired  such  pro- 
ficiency as  to  enable  him  to  construct  a  number  of  very  useful  astronomical 
instruments. 

10.  Lelewel,  J.  Geographie  du  moyen  age.  Bruxelles,  1857.  Vol.  I,  p.  116; 
Jourdain.  Memoire  sur  I'observatoire  de  Meragah.  Paris,  1810.  It  is  well 
known  that  under  the  direction  of  Nasr-Eddin,  who  was  called  to  the 
charge  of  this  observatory  by  Hulagu  Khan,  astronomical  instruments  were 
constructed. 

11.  Dorn,  op.  cit. 

12.  See  the  Fihrist,  also  a  list  as  given  by  Dorn. 

13.  Dorn,  op.  cit. 

14.  Dorn,  op.  cit. 

15.  Meucci,  F.  II  globo  celeste  arabico  del  seculo  XI  esistente  nel 
Gabinetto  degli  strumenti  antichi  di  Astronomia,  Mathematica  nel  R.  Isti- 
tuto  di  Studi  Superiori.  Firenze,   1878. 

[  33  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

16.  Assemani,  S.  Globus  coelestis  cufico-arabicus  Veliterani  Musei  Bor- 
giani.  Patavii,  1790. 

17.  Dorn,  op.  cit. 

18.  Beigel,  W.  Nachricht  von  einer  Arabischen  Himmelskugel  mit 
Kufischer  Schrift,  welche  im  kurfiirstlichen  Mathematischen  Salon  zu 
Dresden  aufbewahrt  wird.  (In :  Bodes  Astronomisches  Jahrbuch  f iir  das 
Jahr  1808.  Berlin,  1808.  pp.  97  ff.)  ;  Drechsler,  A.  Der  arabische  Himmels- 
globus  angefertigt   1279  zu  Meragha.  Dresden,   1873. 

19.  Sedillot,  L.  A.  Memoire  sur  les  instruments  astronomiques  des  Arabes. 
Paris,  1841.  pp.  il7ff. ;  same  author.  Materiaux  pour  servir  a  I'histoire 
comparee  des  sciences  mathematiques  chez  les  grecs  et  les  orientaux.  Paris, 
1845.  Vol.  I,  pp.  334  ff.;  Jomard,  M.  Monuments  de  la  Geographic.  Paris, 
1854.  It  is  very  doubtful  that  a  date  so  early  should  be  given  to  this  globe. 

20.  Information  courteously  given  by  M.  L.  Vallee. 

21.  Dorn,  B.  Drei  in  der  kaiserlichen  ofFentlichen  Bibliothek  zu  St.  Peters- 
burg befindliche  astronomische  Instrumente  mit  arabischen  Inschriften.  (In: 
Memoires  de  I'Academie  Imperiale  des  Sciences  de  St.  Petersbourg.  St. 
Petersbourg,  1865.  VII«'  serie.  Tome  IX,  No.  i.) 


[  34  1 


Fig.  15.  Globe  of  Diemat  Eddin  Mohammed,  1573. 


CO 


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'.2 


O 

s 


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Chapter  IV 

Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes  in  the 
Christian  Middle  Ages 

General  attitude  of  the  period  toward  the  theories  of  the  Greeks  and 
the  Romans. — Scripture  statements  as  sources  of  information. — 
Inclination  of  certain  early  writers  to  accept  the  doctrine  of  a 
spherical  earth. — The  particular  attitude  of  Pope  Sylvester  11. — 
The  asserted  interest  of  Emperor  Frederick  II  in  scientific 
studies. — Alfonso  the  Wise  and  the  Alfonsian  tables. — Interest- 
ing allusions  in  Alfonso's  work  to  globes  and  globe  construc- 
tion.— Giovanni  Campano  of  Novara  and  the  statements  in  his 
'Tractatis  de  sphera  solida.' — The  attitude  of  Albertus  Magnus, 
Sacrobosco,  Roger  Bacon,  Vincent  of  Beauvais,  Dante. 

FOR  many  centuries  following  the  fall  of  the  Western 
Roman  Empire,  there  appears  to  have  been  in  Chris- 
tian Europe  but  little  interest  in  the  fundamental 
principles  of  geographical  or  astronomical  science.  The 
theories  of  the  Greeks  and  the  Romans  respecting  a  spheri- 
cal earth  and  a  spherical  firmament  encompassing  it,  in 
illustration  of  which  they  had  constructed  globes,  were  not 
entirely  forgotten,  but  such  theories  in  general  were  con- 
sidered to  be  valueless,  hindrances  rather  than  helps  to  the 
theological  beliefs  of  the  new  Christian  era.^ 

Though  the  early  Church  Fathers  were  inclined  to  reject 
the  idea  of  a  globular  earth,^  there  were  not  a  few  among 
them  who  found  the  theory  of  a  circular  earth  an  acceptable 
one.  The  latter,  it  is  true,  was  an  early  Greek  belief,  re- 
ferred to  above  as  having  been  entertained  in  Homer's  day, 

[  35  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

and  as  having  been  passed  down  to  succeeding  centuries,  but 
Christian  writers  did  not  find  in  the  fact  of  its  pagan  origin 
a  particular  argument  for  accepting  it;  on  the  contrary,  the 
Bible  was  held  by  many  to  be  the  fountain  of  all  knowl- 
edge, and  a  sure  guide  no  less  in  the  solution  of  problems 
pertaining  to  the  physical  sciences  than  in  the  solution  of 
problems  pertaining  to  faith  and  doctrine.  What  was  con- 
tained in  the  Scriptures  found  a  more  ready  acceptance  than 
what  was  to  be  found  in  pagan  writers.^  Isaiah's  statement, 


Fig.  16.  The  Universe  according  to 

Cosmas  Indicopleustes, 

Sixth  Century. 


"It  is  He  that  sitteth  upon  the  circle  of  the  earth,"  was  re- 
garded as  one  altogether  adequate  on  which  to  found  a 
theory  of  the  form  of  the  earth,  and  it  was  accepted  by  such 
biblical  interpreters  as  Lactantius,  Cosmas  Indicopleustes 
(Figs.  16,  17),  Diodorus  of  Tarsus,  Chrysostom,  Severian 
of  Gabala,  by  those  who  were  known  as  the  Syrians,  by 
Procopius  and  Decuil.*  Men,  however,  such  as  Basil, 
Gregory  of  Nyssa,  and  Philoponos  inclined  strongly  toward 
the  Aristotelian  doctrine  of  a  spherical  earth.°  Isidore  of 
Seville  appears  to  have  been  a  supporter  of  the  spherical 

[  36  ] 


Globes  in  the  Christian  Middle  Ages. 

doctrine,®  as  was  also  the  Venerable  Bede,  who,  in  his  'De 
natura  rerum,'  upholds  the  doctrine  of  a  spherical  earth  on 
practically  the  same  grounds  as  those  advanced  by  Aristotle.' 
In  illustration  of  the  doctrine  of  a  circular  earth,  terres- 
trial globes  certainly  could  not  have  been  thought  of  as 
having  any  practical  value.  With  a  rejection  of  the  spheri- 
cal theory  of  the  ancients  very  naturally  went  the  rejection 
of  their  globes. 


Fig.  17.  Cosmas'  Illustration  Confuting 
the  Existence  of  Antipodal  Peoples. 


The  circular  or  Homeric  theory,  as  noted  above,  had  its 
supporters,  even  to  the  close  of  the  middle  ages,  but  the 
inclination  is  more  or  less  marked,  even  as  early  as  the 
seventh  century,  to  accept  again  the  doctrine  of  a  spherical 
earth.  It  seems  to  have  come  into  prominence  again  with  the 
growing  belief  in  the  importance  of  the  place  of  the  earth  in 
the  universe.  After  the  eighth  century  this  theory  may  be 
said  to  have  had  a  very  general  acceptance  by  those  who, 

[  37  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

Faust-like,  felt  a  desire  for  a  larger  freedom  from  theological 
restraint  than  the  church  encouraged.  (Figs.  18,  19.) 

Attention  has  been  called  to  the  attitude  of  the  writings 
of  the  Anglo-Saxon  Church  Father,  the  Venerable  Bede. 
Although  we  have  no  unquestionable  proof  that  Bede,  or 
Alcuin,^  who  was  greatly  influenced  by  him,  insisted  on  the 
use  of  globes  in  geographical  instruction,  there  is  good 
reason  for  thinking  these  scholars  would  have  inclined  to 
encourage  their  use.  The  monastic  schools,  which,  in  the 
methods  of  instruction,  rested  upon  the  plan  wrought  out 
by  Alcuin  for  the  Palace  School  of  Charles  the  Great,  con- 
sidered globes  to  be  apparatus  of  great  educational  value. 
Professor  Giinther  is  inclined  to  think  it  probable  that  celes- 
tial globes  were  used  throughout  the  early  centuries  of  this 
mediaeval  period  in  the  better  schools,  though  no  positive 
statement  to  that  effect  can  be  cited.^ 

We  know  that  an  exact  knowledge  of  the  movements  of 
the  sun,  of  the  moon,  and  of  the  constellations  was  consid- 
ered to  be  of  first  importance  for  the  priesthood  in  the 
middle  ages,  since  it  was  through  a  knowledge  of  their 
movements  that  the  times  for  the  observance  of  the  rigid 
church  rules  were  fixed.^°  The  acquisition  of  such  knowledge 
could  best  be  secured  through  the  use  of  the  celestial  globe." 
We  learn  from  Notker  Labeo  (950-1022),  one  of  the  most 
distinguished  teachers  of  the  monastic  school  of  St.  Gallen, 
that  he  made  use  of  such  globes  for  astro-geographical 
instruction,  which,  in  their  important  features,  were  like 
our  modern  celestial  globes,  for  he  tells  us  "they  were  sup- 
plied with  all  necessary  parts."  It  seems  evident  that  those 
of  which  he  made  use  could  be  adjusted  to  every  desired 
altitude  of  the  pole.^^ 

One  of  the  most  distinguished  scholars  of  the  tenth  cen- 
tury was  Bishop  Gerbert  (ca.  940-1003),  later  Pope  Syl 
vester  II,  of  whose  learning  we  possess  reliable  evidence 
His  astronomical  knowledge  so  astonished  his  contempora- 
ries that  he  was   thought  to  be  a  necromancer  and  was 

[  38] 


13 


lll<:*f HIKLS '-  IlHlilJI IK) f» Wt 


Fig.   18.  Hereford  World  Map,  ca.   1283. 


Fig.  19.  The  Earth  Pictured  as  a  Sphere 
by  Nicolas  d'Oresme,  1377.     , 


Globes  in  the  Christian  Middle  Ages. 

accused  of  being  in  league  with  the  evil  one/*  He  was  a 
diligent  student  of  the  literature  of  antiquity,  which  had 
survived  to  his  day,  especially  surpassing  all  others,  it  is 
reported,  in  his  acquaintance  with  the  learning  of  pagan 
Rome.  In  the  instruction  which  he  gave  in  astronomical 
science  he  made  use  of  various  instruments,  to  the  end  that 
his  pupils  might  the  better  understand  the  subject,  among 
which  instruments  were  celestial  globes  and  armillary 
spheres.  These  were  a  source  of  much  wonderment  to  his 
contemporaries.  It  is  said  that  one  of  these  instruments  was 
so  skilfully  constructed  that  even  the  untrained  by  its  use, 
having  one  constellation  pointed  out,  would  be  able  to  locate 
all  others  "with  the  aid  of  a  globe  and  without  the  aid  of 
a  teacher."^^  In  a  letter  to  the  monastic  teacher  Constan- 
tius,  with  whom  Gerbert  stood  in  the  friendliest  relations 
for  many  years  at  Rheims,  he  refers  to  the  construction  of 
a  celestial  globe,  and  in  a  more  detailed  manner  he  makes 
mention  of  this  when  writing  to  Remigius  of  Trier.  In  four 
of  his  letters  to  this  last  named  prelate,  Gerbert  touches 
upon  his  purpose  to  construct  a  globe,  but  on  account  of 
the  added  duties  which  were  his,  occasioned  by  the  death 
of  Archbishop  Adalbero,  he  seems  not  to  have  been  able  to 
complete  his  work.  He  expresses  himself,  in  the  third  one 
of  these  letters,  as  hopeful  that  a  favorable  time  might  yet 
come  for  him  to  take  up  the  plan,  but  the  increasing  oppo- 
sition of  his  enemies  left  him  no  leisure  for  scientific  labors 
of  this  character,  and  it  does  not  appear  that  he  turned  his 
attention  again  to  globe  making." 

The  thirteenth  century  furnishes  us  with  the  names  of 
two  distinguished  princes  who  were  especially  active  in  ad- 
vancing scientific  studies  of  their  times.  One  of  these  was 
the  Hohenstaufen  Frederick  II,  concerning  whom  we  are 
informed  that  he  directed  a  learned  Arabian,  who  sojourned 
at  his  court,  to  construct  for  him  a  celestial  globe  of  gold 
on  which  the  stars  were  to  be  represented  by  pearls.^^  We 
are  further  told  that  as  an  outcome  of  his  friendly  rela- 

[  39  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

tions  with  the  rulers  of  the  East,  the  Sultan  of  Egypt  sent 
to  him  an  astronomical  tent  of  wonderful  construction.  In 
this  the  sun  and  the  moon  were  represented  and  by  means 
of  a  skilfully  constructed  mechanism  they  were  made  to 
rise  and  set,  marking  out  the  hours  of  day  and  night." 

As  a  ruler  of  like  intellectual  and  scientific  interests,  the 
Castilian,  Alfonso  X,  who  lived  in  the  thirteenth  century, 
known  as  "The  Wise"  and  as  "The  Astronomer,"  deserves 
to  be  especially  mentioned.  By  his  order  an  elaborate  astro- 
nomical work  was  prepared,  which  holds  a  place  of  first 
importance  among  mediaeval  productions  of  its  character. 
In  this  work  the  construction  of  globes  is  discussed  in  a  very 
detailed  manner,  mention  being  made  of  every  feature  re- 
garded as  belonging  to  a  properly  constructed  celestial 
sphere.  So  significant  are  certain  chapters  of  this  work  for 
the  history  of  globes  and  of  globe  making  that  a  free  trans- 
lation is  here  given  of  that  part  relating  to  materials  of 
which  globes  may  be  constructed.^"  "A  sphere  may  be  made 
of  many  materials,"  says  the  author,  "as  of  gold,  or  silver, 
or  copper,  or  brass,  or  iron,  or  lead,  or  tin,  or  of  a  combina- 
tion of  these  metals ;  or  they  may  be  made  of  stone,  or  clay, 
or  wood.  They  may  also  be  made  of  leather,  of  cloth,  of 
parchment  in  many  layers,  and  of  many  other  materials 
which  men  employ  when  they  wish  to  give  an  exhibition  of 
their  skill.  Those,  however,  who  have  carefully  considered 
these  things,  have  decided  that  there  is  nothing  more  suit- 
able than  wood  and  for  the  following  reasons.  If  the  globe 
should  be  made  of  gold,  only  a  very  rich  man  would  be  able 
to  possess  it;  furthermore  it  would  be  very  heavy.  If  it 
should  be  made  of  thin  sheets  of  gold  it  could  be  easily 
indented  and  would  not  long  remain  a  perfect  sphere.  If  it 
should  be  made  small,  that  which  was  represented  thereon 
would  not  appear  distinct.  The  same  thing  may  be  said  of 
silver,  although  it  is  a  metal  stronger  than  gold,  as  it  is 
likewise  harder,  and  therefore  is  not  so  easily  indented. 
Copper  is  a  metal  harder  than  either  silver  or  gold,  but  is 

[  40  ] 


Globes  in  the  Christian  Middle  Ages. 

so  dry  that  it  can  not  be  easily  fashioned  into  a  globe,  which 
should  always  be  well  made.  Brass,  which  is  like  dark 
colored  copper,  may  be  more  easily  fashioned,  because  it  is 
more  malleable  than  copper,  and  is  stronger  than  either  gold 
or  silver.  If,  however,  a  globe  made  of  this  material  should 
be  thin  it  might  easily  lose  its  shape,  and  if  thick  it  would 
be  very  heavy.  Of  all  metals,  however,  this  is  the  one  most 
suitable  for  use  in  making  spheres,  as  it  is  the  one  most 
commonly  employed.  A  globe  of  iron  would  be  very  difficult 
to  make  and  would  be  very  heavy,  and  since  the  rust  would 
have  to  be  removed  from  it  very  frequently,  there  would  be 
much  danger  of  destroying  the  figures.  A  globe  of  tin,  if 
made  of  a  thin  sheet,  could  be  easily  indented,  and  would 
be  very  heavy  if  the  sheet  of  which  made  were  thick.  Lead, 
if  thin,  would  offer  less  resistance  to  injury  than  tin,  and 
is  a  material  much  heavier.  Furthermore,  as  lead  is  inclined 
to  turn  black,  the  figures  and  the  stars  represented  on  a 
globe  of  this  material  would  soon  become  so  discolored  as 
to  be  no  longer  visible.  There  is  no  way  by  which  it  can  be 
cleaned  without  wiping  out  the  figures.  Although  the  metal 
could  be  combined  to  form  that  material  of  which  water 
jugs  and  buckets  are  made  it  would  be  so  fragile  as  to  break 
like  glass.  Clay,  which  is  also  used  for  the  making  of  water 
jugs,  mortars,  and  fountains,  is  not  suitable  for  globes,  be- 
cause if  thin  it  would  break  easily,  and  if  thick  it  would  be 
very  heavy.  Moreover  this  material  when  prepared  must  be 
baked  in  a  kiln  which  fact  renders  it  unsuitable  for  use  in 
making  spheres.  A  globe  should  not  be  made  of  stone,  since 
if  this  were  transparent  the  figures  could  not  easily  be  seen, 
and  such  material  would  be  very  heavy.  It  would  not  be 
fitting  to  make  so  noble  an  object  as  a  sphere  of  the  material 
of  which  jars  are  made.  Leather  would  not  be  suitable, 
though  it  might  be  fashioned  into  a  permanent  spherical 
shape.  Such  material  shrinks  in  hot  weather  or  when  brought 
near  a  fire.  Cloth  would  not  be  suitable,  though  it  were  made 
very  strong,  since  heat  would  cause  it  to  shrink,  and  mois- 

[  41  1 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

ture  would  cause  it  to  lose  its  shape,  and  this  same  thing 
may  be  said  of  parchment.  A  sphere  of  wood  is  strong  and 
is  of  reasonable  weight  and  may  be  made  in  the  manner 
which  we  shall  set  forth,"  The  original  manuscript  of  this 
work  is  profusely  illustrated,  including  representations  of 
the  ligures  of  the  several  constellations  (Fig.  20). 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  thirteenth  century  the  mathe- 
matician, Giovanni  Campano,  a  native  of  Novara  and 
it  appears  a  particular  friend  and  supporter  of  Pope  Urban 
IV,  won  distinction  for  his  scholarly  attainments  in  the  field 
of  astronomy."'^  In  addition  to  his  work,  titled,  'Teorica 
planetarum,'  wherein  he  comments  on  the  subject  of 
astronomy  and  geometry,  and  makes  copious  references  to 
the  Greek  geometrician  Euclid,  whose  works  he  had  trans- 
lated into  Latin,  he  prepared  a  treatise  which  he  called 
'Tractatis  de  sphera  solida.'  In  the  prologue  to  this  work, 
after  noting  that  the  number  of  astronomical  instruments 
which  have  been  constructed  is  large,  he  states  that  in  the 
main  they  agree  in  their  representation  of  the  movements 
of  the  heavens,  adding  that  as  the  heavens  are  spherical, 
spherical  instruments  are  to  be  preferred.  In  his  first  chap- 
ter, after  alluding  to  the  astronomical  instruments  described 
by  Ptolemy,  he  proceeds  to  treat  of  the  composition  of  solid 
spheres,  which  he  says  may  be  made  of  metal,  or  better,  of 
wood.  He  gives  rules  for  making  the  same  by  the  use  of  the 
lathe,  and  notes  in  conclusion  it  is  well  to  make  the  sphere 
hollow  in  order  to  lighten  the  weight.  In  the  following 
chapters  he  treats  of  the  inscription  of  the  circles  of  the 
sphere,  of  the  constmction  of  the  several  rings  employed 
in  the  mounting,  such  as  the  horizon  and  the  meridian  cir- 
cles, and  gives  consideration  to  the  representation  of  the 
several  constellations  on  the  surface  of  the  ball.  In  the 
second  part  of  his  treatise  he  gives  instruction  as  to  how 
to  use  the  instrument  in  the  solution  of  astronomical 
problems. 

There  appears  to  be  only  the  slightest  evidence  that  Cam- 

[  42  ] 


"^'.-T^T'.  ■ 


Fig.  20.  The  Constellation  Taurus. 


Globes  in  the  Christian  Middle  Ages. 

pano  was  acquainted  with  the  work  of  Alfonso.  His  pres- 
entation of  the  subject,  in  all  probability,  was  altogether 
independent  of  a  knowledge  of  the  Alfonsian  tables.  It  is 
interesting  to  observe  that  in  the  day  when  astrology  was 
in  great  favor  in  the  universities  of  Europe,  Campano  con- 
tinued to  be  interested  in  genuine  astronomical  science. 

x\lbertus  Magnus,  in  his  'Liber  de  coelo  et  mondo,'"^  de- 
votes an  entire  chapter  to  a  theoretical  consideration  of 
gravitation,  asserting  that  the  earth  is  spherical  (Spherica 
sive  orbicularis  necessario),  and  proceeds  to  a  demonstra- 
tion of  the  theor}%  in  which  he  practically  follows  the 
arguments  of  Aristotle,  that  ever}'  particle  of  the  earth  away 
from  the  center  is  continually  in  movement  seeking  that 
center,  the  result  being  the  formation  of  a  spherical  body. 
He  advances  further,  as  argument  in  proof  of  a  spherical 
earth,  that  the  shadow  it  casts  in  an  eclipse  of  the  moon  is 
circular. 

Sacrobosco  (John  of  Holywood  or  Halifax)  (fl.  1230)," 
who  was  active  in  the  first  half  of  the  thirteenth  centur}', 
much  of  the  time  as  professor  of  mathematics  in  the  Uni- 
versity of  Paris,  prepared  a  work  bearing  the  title,  'Tracta- 
tus  de  sphaera,'  being  in  part  a  summary  of  the  'Almagest' 
of  Ptolemy.  In  this  work  the  theory  of  a  spherical  earth  is 
supported  in  much  the  same  manner  as  was  done  by  Cam- 
pano. The  'Tractatus'  proved  to  be  one  of  the  most  impor- 
tant quasi  scientific  geographical  and  astronomical  text- 
books of  the  later  middle  ages,  being  frequently  copied,  and 
frequently  printed  after  the  invention  of  that  art."^ 

Further  reference  might  be  made  to  a  belief  in  a  spherical 
earth,  as  held  by  Roger  Bacon  (1214-1294),"^  by  Thomas 
Aquinas  (1225-1274),"  by  Vincent  of  Beauvais  (1190- 
1264),"*'  by  Dante  (1265-1321),''  and  still  others  of  the 
thirteenth,  fourteenth,  and  fifteenth  centuries.  It  should, 
however,  be  stated  that  nowhere  in  the  works  of  these 
authors  does  there  appear  a  reference  to  the  construction 
of  terrestrial  globes,  and  only  incidentally  the  implication 

[  43  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

that  they  knew  of  or  approved  the  construction  of  celestial 
globes. 

The  increasing  interest  in  geography  and  in  astronomy  in 
the  closing  years  of  the  middle  ages  led  most  naturally,  in 
time,  to  much  activity  in  globe  construction,  and  to  this  fact 
attention  is  directed  in  the  following  chapter. 


NOTES 

1.  Beazley's  monumental  work,  previously  cited,  considers  the  geographi- 
cal knowledge  of  the  Christian  middle  ages,  from  the  closing  years  of  the 
Western  Roman  Empire  to  the  early  years  of  the  fifteenth  century.  See 
especially  Vol.  I,  chap,  vi ;  Vol.  II,  chap,  vi ;  Vol.  Ill,  chap.  vi.  Marinelli, 
G.  Die  Erdkunde  bci  den  Kirchvatern.  Leipzig,  1884;  Kretschmer,  K.  Die 
physischc  Erdkunde  im  christilichen  Mittclalter.  Wien,  1889;  Cosmas  Indi- 
copleustes.  Christian  Topography,  tr.  by  J.  M.  McCrindle.  (In :  Hakluyt 
Society  Publications.  London,  1897)  ;  Giinther,  S.  Die  kosmographlschen 
Anschauung  des  Mittelalters.  (In :  Deutsch.  Rundschau  fiir  Geographic  und 
Statistik.  Vol.  IV,  pp.  135  ff.) 

2.  Zocklcr,  O.  Gcschichte  der  Bcziehungen  zwischen  Theologie  und 
Naturwissenschaft.  Giitersloh,  1877.  pp.  122  ff.;  White,  A.  D.  A  History  of 
the  Warfare  of  Science  with  Theology  in  Christendom.  New  York,  1895- 
1897.  See  especially  chaps,  ii-iii.  See  also  references  in  note  1. 

3.  Isaiah,  chap,  xl,  v.  20;  Ezechiel,  chap,  xxxviii,  v.  12;  Job,  chap,  xxvi, 
V.  7,  10;  Psalm  cxxxvi,  6. 

4.  Note  summary  and  citations  in  Kretschmer,  op.  cit. 

5.  Note  citations  in  Kretschmer,  op.  cit. 

6.  See  his  works,  Etymologia,  3,  24-71,  and  De  natura  rerum,  9-27. 
Brehaut,  E.  An  Encyclopedist  of  the  Dark  Ages.  Isidore  of  Seville.  (In : 
Studies  in  History,  Economics  and  Public  Law,  Columbia  University.  New 
York,  1912.  Vol.  xlviii.  No.  1.) 

It  must  be  admitted  that  there  is  considerable  incoherence  in  the  views 
of  the  world  as  expressed  by  the  great  majority  of  the  mediaeval  writers. 
One  not  infrequently  lands  in  confusion  when  undertaking  an  investigation 
of  their  opinions. 

7.  Beda.  Opuscula  scientifica.  Ed.  by  J.  A.  Giles.  London,  1843.  See 
De  natura  rerum,  chap,  xlvi,  titled,  "Terram  globo  similem." 

8.  West,  A.  F.  Alcuin  and  the  Rise  of  Christian  Schools.  New  York, 
1892;  Mullinger,  J.  B.  The  Schools  of  Charles  the  Great.  New  York,  1911  ; 
Fellner,  R.  Kompendium  der  Naturwissenschaften  an  der  Schule  zu  Fulda. 
Berlin,   1879. 

The  real  founder  of  the  monastic  schools  was  Hrabanus  Maurus,  who 
was  a  pupil  of  Alcuin,  and  who  carried  to  the  monastery  of  Fulda  that 
Englishman's  love  for  the  Quadrivium. 

9.  Giinther,  S.-Fiorini,  M.  Erd-  und  Himmelsgloben.  Leipzig,  1895.  p.  19. 

10.  Specht,   F.   A.   Geschichte   des  Unterrichtswesen  in   Deutschland   von 

[  44  ] 


Globes  in  the  Christian  Middle  Ages. 

den  altestcn  Zeiten  bis  zur  Mitte  des  XIII  Jahrhundcrts.  Stuttgart,   1885. 
pp.  127  ff. 

11.  Giinther-Fiorini,  op.  cit.,  p.  18,  n.  4,  refers  to  a  star  map  made  in  the 
monastery  of  St.  Emeran  in  the  early  fifteenth  century,  and  now  belonging 
to  the  K.  K.  Hof-  und  Staats-Bibliothek  of  Munich,  which  was  intended 
for  a  "Compositio  sperc  solido." 

12.  Arx,  J.  V.  Geschichte  des  Kantons  St.  Gallen.  St.  Gallen,  1810.  p.  265. 

13.  Biidinger,  M.  Ubcr  Gerbcrts  wissenschaftliche  und  politische  Stellung. 
Marburg,  1851  ;  Werner,  K.  Gerbert  von  Aurillac,  die  Kirche  und  die 
Wissenschaft  seiner  Zeit.  Wicn,  1878. 

14.  Biidinger,  op.  cit.,  p.  38. 

15.  Specht,  op.  cit.,  pp.  138-139;  Dummler,  E.  Ekkehart  IV  von  St.  Gallen. 
(In:  Zeitschrift  fiir  deutschcs  Altertum.  Berlin,  1869.  Neue  Folge,  Vol.  2, 
p.  23.)  The  implication  in  the  last  named  work  seems  to  be  that  globes 
were  used  in  many  of  the  schools  of  this  early  day.  Mabillon,  J.  Veterum 
analectorum.  Paris,  1676.  Tom.  2,  p.  212.  The  statement  here  made  clearly 
refers  to  the  use  of  globes  in  astronomical  instruction. 

16.  Gerbert,  Letters  of,  983-997,  publiees  avec  une  introduction  et  des 
notes  par  J.  Havet.  Paris,  1889.  See  especially  Nos.  134,  148,  152,  162. 
Gerbert  refers,  in  these  letters  to  Remigius,  to  a  globe  which  he  intended  to 
construct. 

17.  Lelewel,  op.  cit..  Vol.  II,  p.  2. 

18.  Raumer,  F.  v.  Geschichte  dcr  Hohenstaufen  und  ihre  Zeit.  Leipzig, 
1878.  Vol.  Ill,  p.  493.  This  astronomical  tent  has  sometimes  been  referred 
to  as  a  globe. 

19.  Libros  del  Saber  dc  Astronomia  del  Rey  D.  Alfonso  X  de  Castilla. 
Compilados,  anotados  y  comentados  por  Don  Manuel  Rico  y  Sinobas. 
Madrid,  1863-1867.  See  especially  Vol.  I,  pp.  153  flF. 

20.  Enciclopedia  Universal  illustrada,  "Campano" ;  Tiraboschi,  G.  Storia 
della  letteratura  italiana.  Roma,  1782-1785.  Tom.  IV,  lib.  ii,  cap.  ii,  §v ; 
Fiorini.  Sfere  terrestri.  pp.  40-56. 

There  are  numerous  manuscripts  of  Campano  to  be  found  in  the  Uni- 
versity Library  of  Bologna,  in  the  Ambrosiana  of  Milan,  and  in  the  Library 
of  San  Marco  in  Venice,  Fiorini  refers  to  a  number  of  writers  who  may 
be  said  to  have  followed  and  in  part  copied  Campano. 

21.  Albertus  Magnus.  Libej  de  coelo  et  mundo.  Lib.  II  4,  c.  9.  For  a  short 
biography  of  Albertus  see  Encyclopaedia  Britannica,  "Albertus  Magnus." 

22.  Giinther,  S.  Geschichte  des  mathematischen  Unterrichtcs,  im  deutschen 
Mittelalter  bis  zum  Jahre   1525.  Berlin,  1887.  pp.   184  fF. 

23.  Catalogue  of  Printed  Books  in  the  British  Museum  contains  a  list 
of  more  than  fifty  editions,  the  first  being  printed  in  the  year  1472. 

24.  Biographies  arc  numerous.  See  Dictionary  of  National  Biography, 
"Roger  Bacon,"  with  bibliographical  list.  Sec  Bacon's  Opus  Magnus,  lib.  I, 
152-1535  "necesse  est  vero  mundum  extra  habere  figuram  spericam  .  .  ." ; 
also  lib.  IV,  in  which  he  treats  of  the  form  of  the  earth. 

25.  See  for  a  short  biography  Nouvelle  biographic.  Paris,  1866.  "Thomas 
d'Aquin." 

26.  Bourgeat,  J.  B.  Etudes  sur  Vincent  de  Beauvais.  Paris,  1856. 

27.  Biographies  of  Dante  are  numerous.  See  his  Purgatorio,  Canto 
XXVII,  lines  1-4,  referring  to  midday  on  the  Ganges  when  it  is  dawn  in 
Jerusalem ;  see  also  his  Aqua  et  Terra,  wherein  he  gives  expression  to  a 
belief  in  the  spherical  theory. 

[  45  ] 


Chapter  V 

Globes  Constructed  in  the  Early  Years  of 
the  Great  Geographical  Discoveries 

Increasing  interest  in  geographical  discovery  and  maritime  enterprise 
in  the  fourteenth  and  the  fifteenth  century. — Awakened  interest 
in  globe  construction. — Martin  Behaim  and  his  globe  of  the 
year  1492. — The  Laon  globe. — Christopher  and  Bartholomew 
Columbus  and  their  interest  in  globes. — John  Cabot  and  his 
globe. — Globes  of  Johannes  Stoffler. — Conrad  Celtes  and  his  part 
in  arousing  an  interest  in  globes. 

THE  fourteenth  century  witnessed  among  the  peo- 
ples of  Italy  and  of  the  Iberian  coast  regions  a 
rapidly  rising  interest  in  maritime  enterprise.  The 
expansion  of  Europe,  which  for  two  centuries  had  been  over- 
land and  eastward,  was  now  becoming  oceanic,  with  an 
outlook  southward  and  westward  into  the  Atlantic.  In  the 
fifteenth  century,  under  the  inspiration  of  Prince  Henry 
the  Navigator,  the  Portuguese  were  feeling  their  way  down 
the  coast  of  Africa,  adding  year  by  year  to  their  knowledge 
of  hitherto  unknown  lands  ;^  the  Atlantic  island  groups,  one 
by  one,  were  discovered  or  rediscovered,^  and  in  1487 
Bartholomew  Diaz  turned  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  and 
opened  a  new  way  to  the  Indies  of  the  East.^  Through  all 
these  enterprises  a  new  and  vigorous  stimulus  was  given  to 
interest  in  geographical  studies,  just  as  an  awakening  had 
followed  the  disclosure  of  the  riches  of  the  East  by  Carpini, 
Rubruquis,  and  especially  by  Marco  Polo  in  the  earlier 
post-crusading  years.* 

[46  ] 


Fig.  21.  Globe  of  Martin  Behaim,  1492. 


Early  Years  of  Great  Geographical  Discoveries. 

Out  of  this  lively  interest  in  all  that  pertained  to  the 
expansion  of  knowledge  concerning  the  various  regions  of 
the  earth  came  a  desire  for  better  map  making,^  and  atten- 
tion was  again  intelligently  directed  to  the  construction  of 
terrestrial  globes  on  which  to  represent  the  most  recently 
discovered  seas,  islands,  and  continental  coasts. 

It  was  Martin  Behaim  of  Niirnberg  (1459-1507),^  who, 
in  so  far  as  we  have  knowledge,  constructed  one  of  the  first 
modem  terrestrial  globes  (Fig.  21),  and  it  may,  indeed,  be 
said  of  his  "Erdapfel,"  as  he  called  it,  that  it  is  the  oldest 
terrestrial  globe  extant.  Behaim  (Fig.  22)  belonged  to  the 
merchant  class  of  a  flourishing  South  German  city.  He  took 
advantage  of  the  opportunities  which  were  offered  him  for 
travel,  though  it  is  hardly  probable  that  he  is  entitled  to 
that  renown  as  an  African  coast  explorer  with  which  certain 
of  his  biographers  have  attempted  to  crown  him,  nor  does 
it  appear  that  he  is  entitled  to  a  very  prominent  place  among 
the  men  famed  in  his  day  for  their  astronomical  and  nauti- 
cal knowledge.  It  was  doubtless  for  reasons  primarily  com- 
mercial that  he  first  found  his  way  to  Portugal,  where, 
shortly  after  his  arrival,  probably  in  the  year  1484,  he  was 
honored  by  King  John  with  an  appointment  as  a  member 
of  a  nautical  or  mathematical  Junta.  During  his  earlier 
years  in  Portugal  he  was  connected  with  one  or  more  expe- 
ditions down  the  coast  of  Africa,  was  knighted  by  the  king, 
presumably  for  his  services,  and  made  his  home  for  some 
years  on  the  island  of  Fayal.  In  the  year  1490  he  returned 
for  a  visit  to  his  native  city,  Niirnberg,  and  there  is  reason 
for  believing  that  on  this  occasion  he  was  received  with 
much  honor  by  his  fellow  townsmen.  It  was  the  suggestion 
of  George  Holzschuher,  member  of  the  City  Council,  and 
himself  somewhat  famed  as  a  traveler,  that  eventually 
brought  special  renown  to  our  globe  maker,  for  he  it  was 
who  proposed  to  his  colleagues  of  the  Council  that  Martin 
Behaim  should  be  requested  to  undertake  the  construction 
of  a  globe  on  which  the  recent  Portuguese  and  other  dis- 

[  47  1 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

coveries  should  be  represented.  From  a  record  on  the  globe 
itself,  placed  within  the  Antarctic  circle,  we  learn  that  the 
work  was  undertaken  on  the  authority  of  three  distinguished 
citizens,  Gabriel  Nutzel,  Paul  Volckamer,  and  Nikolaus 
Groland/  It  is  an  interesting  fact  that  we  are  able  to  follow 
in  detail  the  construction  of  the  globe  through  its  several 
stages,  as  the  accounts  of  George  Holzschuher,  to  whom 
was  entrusted  the  general  supervision  of  the  work,  have  been 
preserved.^  From  his  report,  presented  at  the  conclusion  of 
the  undertaking,  we  learn  the  names  of  those  who  partici- 
pated in  the  production  of  the  globe;  we  learn  the  amount 
received  by  each  for  his  labors,  and  that  the  total  cost  to 
the  city  for  the  completed  product  was  something  less  than 
seventy-five  dollars.  Information  is  given  therein  as  to  the 
division  of  the  work;  how  the  spherical  shell  was  prepared; 
how  the  vellum  covering  was  fitted  to  the  sphere;  how  the 
rings  and  the  globe  supports  were  supplied;  finally,  how  the 
artist,  Glockenthon,  transferred  the  map  to  the  prepared 
surface  of  the  ball  and  added  to  the  same  the  several 
miniatures,  illustrating  in  rich  color  a  variety  of  subjects. 

The  globe,  which  still  belongs  to  the  Behaim  family,  was 
removed  in  the  year  1907,  by  Baron  W.  Behaim,  from  his 
residence  in  Egedienplatz,  Niirnberg,  to  the  Germanic 
Museum,  where  it  ma}^  now  be  found.  It  originally  stood 
on  a  tripod  base  of  wood,  but  this  was  later  replaced  by 
one  of  iron.  The  iron  meridian  circle  is  doubtless  the  work 
of  Behaim  himself,  while  its  brass  horizon  circle  probably 
dates  from  the  year  1510.^ 

In  his  scholarly  work  Ravenstein  thus  describes  this  re- 
markable monument  of  a  period  in  which  there  was  a  rapid 
expansion  of  geographical  knowledge.  "The  globe  has  a 
circumference  of  1595  mm.,  consequently  a  diameter  of 
507  mm.  or  20  inches.  Only  two  great  circles  are  laid  down 
upon  it,  viz.,  the  equator,  divided  into  360  degrees,  and 
the  ecliptic  studded  with  the  signs  of  the  zodiac.  The 
Tropics,  the  Arctic  and  the  Antarctic  circles  are  likewise 

[  48] 


3-Kirt'^^ 


Sy 


/• 


Fig.  22.  Portrait  of  Martin  Behaim. 


Early  Years  of  Great  Geographical  Discoveries. 

shown.  The  only  meridian  is  drawn  from  pole  to  pole  80 
degrees  to  the  west  of  Lisbon.  The  sea  is  colored  a  dark 
blue,  the  land  a  bright  brown  or  buff  with  patches  of  green 
and  silver,  representing  forests  and  regions  supposed  to  be 
buried  beneath  perennial  ice  and  snow.  Perhaps  the  most 
attractive  feature  of  the  globe  consists  of  1 1 1  miniatures, 
for  which  we  are  indebted  to  Glockenthon's  clever  pencil. 
The  vacant  space  within  the  Antarctic  circle  is  occupied  by 
a  fine  design  of  the  Niirnberg  eagle  with  the  virgin's  head, 
associated  with  which  are  the  arms  of  the  three  chief  cap- 
tains by  whose  authority  the  globe  was  made.  .  .  .  There 
are,  in  addition,  48  flags  (including  10  of  Portugal)  and 
15  coats  of  arms,  all  of  them  showing  heraldic  colors.  The 
miniatures  represent  a  variety  of  subjects.  Forty-eight  of 
them  show  us  kings  seated  within  tents  or  upon  thrones; 
full-length  portraits  are  given  of  four  Saints  (St.  Peter,  St. 
Paul,  St.  Matthew,  and  St.  lago),  of  missionaries  instruct- 
ing natives,  and  of  travelers.  Eleven  vessels  float  upon  the 
sea,  which  is  peopled  by  fishes,  seals,  sea-lions,  sea-cows, 
sea-horses,  sea-serpents,  mermen,  and  a  mermaid.  The  land 
animals  include  elephants,  leopards,  bears,  camels,  ostriches, 
parrots,  and  serpents.  .  .  .  The  only  fabulous  beings  which 
are  represented  among  the  miniatures  are  a  merman  and  a 
mermaid,  near  the  Cape  Verde  Islands,  and  two  Sciapodes 
in  central  South  Africa,  but  syrens,  satyrs,  and  men  with 
dogs'  heads  are  referred  to  in  some  of  the  legends.  Nor  do 
we  meet  with  the  'ludei  clausi,'  or  with  a  'garden  of 
Eden,'  still  believed  in  by  Columbus.  .  .  .  The  globe  is 
crowded  with  over  1100  place  names  and  numerous  legends 
in  black,  red,  gold,  or  silver."^" 

The  legends,  in  the  South  German  dialect  of  the  period, 
are  very  numerous  (Fig.  23),  and  are  of  great  interest  to 
students  of  history  and  of  historical  geography.  The  fol- 
lowing will  serve  to  indicate  the  character  of  Behaim's 
numerous  legends.  "Nach  cristi  unsers  lieben  hern  gepurt 
1431  jar  also  regiert  in  portugal  j infante  don  pedro  wurden 

[  49  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

nach  notlusse  zegericht  zway  schiff  auf  2  Jar  gespeisst  von 
den  hochgeburnen  Jnfanten  don  heinrichen  dess  koniks  aufs 
portogalli  bruder  zu  erfahren  wass  do  wer  hinder  sanct 
Jacob  finisterre  weliche  schiff  also  geriist  segelten  alweg 
nach  den  untergang  der  sonnen  bey  500  teutsche  meilen 
zuletst  wurden  sy  ains  tags  ansichtig  dies  10  inseln  und 
aufs  landt  trettendt  funden  nichts  dann  wildness  und  vogel 
die  waren  so  zam  dass  sy  vor  niemandt  flohen  aber  von 
leutten  oder  thieren  mit  vier  fiissen  war  von  wege  der  wild- 
nuss  keins  darkhumen  zu  wohen  um  desswillen  die  vogel 
mit  scheuh  waren  also  wurden  sy  geheissen  insuln  dos  azores 
das  ist  auf  teutsch  so  vil  als  der  habichen  inseln  und  umb 
weliche  wellen  der  konik  von  portugal  das  ander  jar  schikt 
16  schiff  mit  allerley  zame  thiere  und  liess  auf  jede  insel 
sein  tail  thun  und  darzu  multiplieieren,"  This  legend,  which 
lies  to  the  southeast  of  the  Azores  Islands,  reads  in  transla- 
tion: "1431  years  after  the  birth  of  our  dear  Lord,  when 
there  reigned  in  Portugal  the  Infant  Don  Pedro,  the  infant 
Don  Henry,  the  King  of  Portugal's  brother,  had  fitted  out 
two  vessels  and  found  with  all  that  was  needed  for  two 
years,  in  order  to  find  out  what  was  beyond  the  St.  Jacob's 
Cape  of  Finisterre.  The  ships  thus  provisioned  sailed  con- 
tinuously to  the  westward  for  500  German  miles,  and  in 
the  end  they  sighted  these  ten  islands.  On  landing  they 
found  nothing  but  a  wilderness  and  birds  which  were  so 
tame  that  they  fled  from  no  one.  But  of  men  or  of  four 
footed  animals  none  had  come  to  live  there  because  of  the 
wildness,  and  this  accounts  for  the  birds  not  having  been 
shy.  On  this  ground  the  islands  were  called  dos  Azores,  that 
is.  Hawk  Islands,  and  in  the  year  after,  the  king  of  Portu- 
gal sent  sixteen  ships  with  various  tame  animals  and  put 
some  of  these  on  each  island  there  to  multiply. "^^ 

The  following  legend  relates  to  the  islands  of  Antilia. 
"Als  man  zelt  nach  cristi  gepurt  734  jar  als  ganz  hispania 
von  dn  heiden  auf  affrica  gewonon  wurdt  do  wurdt  bewont 
di  obgeschriben  Insuln  Antilia  genant  Septe  citade  voneinem 

[  50  ] 


VBftvlta(V»saaaa 


.-   0       0  '-    S 

:    .a     o    »      B 


// 


I*  / 


04 


♦♦/ 


\^< 


Fig.  23.  Globe  of  Martin  Behaim  in  Hemispheres. 


^v 


Early  Years  of  Great  Geographical  Discoveries. 

erzbischoff  von  porto  portigal  mit  sech  andern  bischoffs  und 
andern  cristen  man  und  frawen  dj  zu  sciff  von  hispanie  das 
geflohen  komen  mit  Irem  vieh  hab  und  gut  anno  1414  ist 
ein  schiff  aus  hispania  ungefert  darbei  gewest  am  negsten." 
"In  the  year  734  of  Christ  when  the  whole  of  Spain  had 
been  won  by  the  heathen  of  Africa,  the  above  island  Antilia 
called  Septa  Citade  (Seven  Cities)  was  inhabited  by  an 
archbishop  from  Porto  in  Portugal,  with  six  other  bishops 
and  other  Christians,  men  and  women,  who  had  fled  thither 
from  Spain  by  ship,  together  with  their  cattle,  belongings 
and  goods.  1414  a  ship  from  Spain  got  nighest  it  without 


J512 


being  endangered. 

Through  the  inspiration  of  Behaim  the  construction  of 
globes  in  the  city  of  Niirnberg  became  a  new  industry  to 
which  the  art  activities  of  the  city  greatly  contributed.  The 
chief  magistrate  induced  his  fellow  citizen  to  give  instruc- 
tion in  the  art  of  making  such  instruments,  yet  this  seems  to 
have  lasted  but  a  short  time,  for  we  learn  that  not  long 
after  the  completion  of  his  now  famous  "Erdapfel,"  Behaim 
returned  to  Portugal,  where  he  died  in  the  year  1507. 

Martin  Behaim's  map  of  the  world  was  drawn  on  parch- 
ment which  had  been  pasted  over  a  large  sphere.  The  Laon 
globe,^^  apparently  following  closely  in  time  the  former,  is 
an  engraved  and  gilded  copper  ball,  having  a  diameter  of 
17  cm.  There  is  evidence  that  at  one  time  it  was  part  of 
an  astronomical  clock."  The  engraved  surface,  on  which 
appear  the  outlines  of  continents  and  islands,  is  well  pre- 
served. It  has  two  meridian  circles,  which  intersect  at  right 
angles  and  which  can  be  moved  about  a  common  axis,  like- 
wise a  horizon  circle  which  is  movable.  Numerous  circles 
appear  engraved  on  the  surface  of  the  ball,  including  merid- 
ians and  parallels.  The  prime  meridian  passes  through  the 
Madeira  Islands,  a  fact  which  suggests  a  Portuguese  origin, 
since  these  islands  are  generally  thought  to  have  been  dis- 
covered by  Lusitanian  seamen.  One  hundred  and  eighty 
degrees  east  of  this  prime  meridian,  a  second  meridian  is 

[  51  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

engraved,  equally  prominent,  passing  through  the  middle  of 
the  continent  of  Asia,  and  90  degrees  still  farther  to  east- 
ward is  a  third.  Each  of  these  meridians  is  divided  into 
degrees,  which  are  grouped  in  fifths  and  are  numbered  by 
tens,  starting  at  the  equator.  The  meridians  are  intersected 
by  a  number  of  parallels,  lightly  engraved  in  the  northern 
hemisphere,  less  distinct  in  the  southern,  and  represent  the 
seven  climates  employed  by  the  cosmographers  of  the  Greek 
and  Roman  period,  as  well  as  by  those  of  the  middle  ages,  in 
their  division  of  the  earth's  surface. 

As  to  its  geographical  representations,  this  terrestrial 
globe  appears  to  be  older  than  that  of  Martin  Behaim,  yet 
at  the  southern  extremity  of  Africa  we  find  the  name  "Mons 
Niger,"  inscribed  with  the  legend  "Hue  usque  Portu- 
galenses  navigio  pervenere  1493." 

The  great  enterprise  of  Christopher  Columbus  (Fig.  24), 
wherein  he  may  be  said  to  have  achieved  a  final  victory 
for  the  doctrine  of  a  spherical  earth,  entitled  his  name  to  a 
place  of  prominence  in  the  history  of  terrestrial  globes. 
That  Columbus  himself  constructed  globes,  as  has  been 
sometimes  inferred  from  a  statement  of  Las  Casas,  may, 
however,  be  questioned,  since  this  statement  touches  the 
reputed  correspondence  between  Columbus  and  Toscanelli, 
which  correspondence,  in  the  light  of  the  very  searching 
studies  of  Mr.  Henry  Vignaud,  must  now  be  considered  to 
be  of  doubtful  authenticity.^^  It  appears,  however,  from 
this  letter  that  the  famous  Italian  cosmographer,  Pauolo 
Toscanelli,  himself  was  accustomed  to  explain  problems 
arising  in  the  field  of  discovery  by  the  use  of  the  globe,  and 
Las  Casas  tells  us  that  Columbus  resolved  to  write  to  him, 
making  known  his  intentions,  which  he  desired  to  be  able  to 
fulfil,  and  sent  to  him  a  globe  through  Lorenzo  Girardi,  a 
Florentine,  at  that  time  residing  in  Lisbon.^®  Ferdinand 
Columbus,  referring  to  this  incident,  says  that  "the  globe 
was  a  small  one.""  In  referring  to  Bartholomew,  the  son 
of  Christopher  Columbus,  Las  Casas  observes  that  "he  was 

[  52  ] 


Fig.  24.  Lorenzo  Lotto  Portrait  of  Columbus. 


Early  Years  of  Great  Geographical  Discoveries. 

a  man  of  prudence  and  of  great  intelligence  in  all  matters 
pertaining  to  the  seas.  I  believe  not  much  less  learned  in 
cosmography  and  in  what  relates  thereto,  the  making  of 
navigator's  charts  and  globes  and  other  instruments  of  that 
kind."^^  Again,  we  find  in  a  letter  which  Christopher  Colum- 
bus directed  to  their  Catholic  Majesties,  that  he  "sent  to 
their  Majesties  a  certain  round  representation.""  None  of 
these  references  to  globes,  as  before  stated,  necessarily  give 
us  to  understand  that  Christopher  Columbus  was  a  globe 
maker.  Certain  it  is  that  none  is  now  known  attributed  to 
him  or  to  his  son. 

The  explorer,  John  Cabot  ( 1450-1498)  (Fig.  25),  is  like- 
wise reputed  to  have  been  interested  in  the  construction  of 
globes.  In  a  dispatch  sent  from  London,  December  18,  1497, 
by  the  envoy  Raimondi  di  Soncino  to  the  Duke  of  Milan,  we 
read  that  "this  Master  John  has  a  description  of  the  world 
on  a  map,  and  also  on  a  solid  sphere,  which  he  has  made, 
and  it  shows  where  he  landed,  and  that  sailing  toward  the 
east  (west)  he  had  passed  far  beyond  the  region  of  the 
Tanais."'*' 

That  terrestrial  globes  were  constructed  toward  the  close 
of  the  fifteenth  century  is  of  significance,  not  only  as  a 
response  to  a  new  desire  for  more  nearly  accurate  represen- 
tation of  the  earth's  surface  than  could  be  set  forth  on  a 
plane  map,  but  it  is  likewise  significant  by  reason  of  the 
fact  that  such  globes  as  were  constructed  served  to  demon- 
strate the  value  of  globe  maps,  and  this  value  once  demon- 
strated, they  served  to  awaken  a  still  further  interest  in 
globe  making,  which  bears  abundant  fruitage  in  the  follow- 
ing century. 

There  is  a  very  remarkable  celestial  globe  of  the  fifteenth 
century  now  belonging  to  the  Lyceum  Library  of  Constance, 
Switzerland.  It  is  the  work  of  Johannes  Stoffler  (1452- 
1531),"^  at  one  time  a  pastor  in  the  town  of  Justingen,  later 
a  professor  of  mathematics  in  the  University  of  Tiibingen, 
where  he  achieved  renown  as  mathematician,  astronomer, 

[  53  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

cosmographer,  and  mechanic.  It  appears  from  the  title  of 
a  publication  attributed  to  Stoffler,  'De  artiiiciosa  globi 
terrestris  compositione,'"  that  he  was  a  maker  of  terrestrial 
globes,  though  no  such  globe  of  his  is  now  known,  and  from 
his  letters  to  Reuchlin  we  learn  that  he  made  no  less  than 
three  celestial  globes."^  One  of  the  latter  he  sent  to  his 
friend,  Probst  Peter  Wolf  of  Denkendorf,  which  repre- 
sented the  movements  of  the  sun  and  of  the  moon.  A  sec- 
ond was  constructed  for  Bishop  von  Dalberg  of  Worms,  on 
which  the  stars  were  represented  in  gold."*  Nothing  further 
is  definitely  known  of  these  two  globes.  A  third  was  con- 
structed for  Bishop  Daniel  of  Constance,  which  is  the  one 
now  to  be  found  in  that  city's  library.'^  This  sphere  has 
a  diameter  of  48  cm,,  rests  upon  a  wooden  base,  and  is  fur- 
nished with  a  meridian  and  with  a  horizon  circle.  The 
forty-eight  constellations  of  Ptolemy  are  represented  on  a 
dark  background  and  are  outlined  in  accord  with  recognized 
traditions.  To  a  few  of  the  constellations  double  names  are 
given,  as  "Hercules"  and  "Genuflexus,"  "Auriga"  and 
"Agitator."  Stars  of  the  first  magnitude  are  especially  dis- 
tinguished by  name,  the  majority  of  which  are  of  Arabic 
origin,  and  more  than  one  thousand  stars  are  clearly  indi- 
cated. 

To  the  globe  makers  themselves,  who  were  active  agents 
in  creating  a  demand  for  globes,  there  should  here  be  added 
the  name  of  Conrad  Celtes  (1459-1508),^''  the  distinguished 
German  humanist,  as  that  of  one  who  contributed  most  in 
the  first  years  of  modem  times  toward  arousing  an  interest 
in  the  use  of  globes  in  the  schools.  Aschbach,  in  his  History 
of  the  Vienna  University,"^  tells  us  of  the  school  founded 
in  Vienna  in  the  year  1510  by  the  Emperor  Maximilian  I, 
and  of  the  instruction  given  in  this  school  by  Celtes.  We  are 
informed  that  in  his  lectures  on  mathematical  geography  he 
introduced  a  good  text  of  Ptolemy  in  the  original  Greek; 
this  he  translated  into  Latin,  interpreting  the  same  in  Ger- 
man, explaining  the   several   sentences  by  reference  to  a 

[  54  ] 


Fig.  25.  Portrait  of  Sebastian  Cabot, 
Son  of  John  Cabot. 


Early  Years  of  Great  Geographical  Discoveries. 

terrestrial  and  to  a  celestial  globe.  Having  no  record  that 
such  a  method  had  been  earlier  employed  we  may  therefore 
conclude  that  this  distinguished  teacher  was  the  first  to 
proceed  in  the  manner  designated,  that  is,  he  was  the  first 
in  modern  times  to  make  use  of  globes  in  geographical  and 
astronomical  instruction. 


NOTES 

1.  Major,  R.  H.  Life  of  Prince  Henry  the  Navigator.  London,  1868.  This 
is  one  of  the  first,  and,  at  the  same  time,  one  of  the  most  satisfactory 
biographies  of  Prince  Henry ;  Beazley,  C.  R.  Prince  Henry  the  Navigator. 
New  York,  1895 ;  Azurara,  Gomez  Eannes  de.  Chronicle  of  the  Discovery 
and  Conquest  of  Guinea.  Tr.  and  ed.  by  Charles  Raymond  Beazley  and 
Edward  Prestage.  (Hakluyt  Society  Publications.  London,  1896.  2  vols.) 

2.  D'Avczac,  M.  A.  P.  Description  et  histoire  des  ties  de  I'Afrique.  Paris, 
1848;  same  author.  Notice  des  decouvertes  faites  au  moyen  age  dans 
rOcean  Atlantique.  Paris,  1845;  same  author,  Les  lies  fantastiques  de 
rOcean  occidental  au  moyen  age.  Paris,  1845  I  Margry,  P.  La  conquete  des 
lies  Canaries.  Paris,  1896;  Beazley.  Dawn  of  Modern  Geography.  Vol.  HL 
chap.  iv. 

The  Canary  Islands,  and  perhaps  others  in  the  eastern  Atlantic,  were 
known  to  the  Romans,  but  appear  to  have  been  lost  to  the  knowledge  of 
the  Europeans  during  the  greater  part  of  the  middle  ages,  to  be  redis- 
covered in  the  period  in  which  modern  geographical  exploration  was  being 
entered  upon. 

3.  Ravenstein,  E.  G.  The  voyages  of  Diogo  Cao  and  Bartholomew  Diaz. 
(In:  Geographical  Journal.  London,   1900.  Vol.  XVI,  pp.  625-655.) 

4.  Beazley.  Dawn  of  Modern  Geography.  Vol.  II,  chap,  v ;  Vol.  Ill, 
chap,  ii ;  Yule,  H.  The  Book  of  Sir  Marco  Polo,  the  Venetian,  concerning 
the  Kingdoms  and  Marvels  of  the  East.  London,  1903.  2  vols. 

5.  Nordenskiold,  A.  E.  Facsimile  Atlas.  Stockholm,  1889;  same  author, 
Periplus.  Stockholm,  1897  ;  Stevenson,  E.  L.  Portolan  Charts,  their  origin 
and  characteristics.  New  York,  191 1;  same  author,  Genoese  World  Map, 
1457.  New  York,  1912;  same  author.  Facsimiles  of  Portolan  Charts.  New 
York,  1916. 

From  the  above-named  list  of  works,  to  which  numerous  additions 
might  be  made,  a  general  notion  of  the  beginnings  of  modern  cartography 
can  be  obtained. 

6.  Doppelmayr,  J.  S.  Historische  Nachricht  von  den  Niirnbergischen 
Mathematicis  und  Kiinstlern.  Niirnberg,  1730.  pp.  27  ff.  Murr,  C.  G.  v.  Dip- 
lomatische  Geschichte  des  portuguisischen  beriihmten  Ritters  Martin  Be- 
haim  aus  Originalurkunden.  Niirnberg,  1778;  Ghillany,  F.  W.  Der  Erd- 
globus  des  Martin  Behaim  von  1492,  und  der  des  Johann  Schoner  1520. 
Niirnberg,  1842;  same  author,  Geschichte  des  Seefahrers  Ritter  Martin 
Behaim,   nach   den   altesten   vorhandenen   Urkunden   bearbeitet.   Niirnberg, 

[  55  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

1S53;  Ziegler,  A.  Martin  Behaim,  der  Geistige  Entdecker  Amerikas.  Dres- 
den, 1859;  Giinther,  S.  Martin  Behaim.  Bamberg,  1890;  Wieser,  F.  v. 
Magalhaes-Strasse  und  Australkontinent  auf  den  Globen  des  Johannes 
Schoner.  Innsbruck,  1881  ;  Gallois,  L.  Les  Geographes  allemands  de  la 
renaissance.  Paris,  1890.  Chap,  iii ;  Ravenstein,  E.  G.  Martin  Behaim,  His 
Life  and  His  Globe.  London,  1908;  Harrisse,  H.  The  Discovery  of  North 
America.  London,  1892.  pp.  391. 

Of  the  above-named  works,  that  by  Ravenstein  is  the  most  satisfactor>% 
being  a  most  scholarly  and  scientific  treatment  of  his  subject.  His  vv^ork  is 
indeed  a  monument  in  the  field  of  historical  geography.  Of  the  repro- 
ductions of  the  globe  map,  none  surpasses  the  excellent  facsimile  in  the 
form  of  globe  gores  vi'hich  he  prepared  to  accompany  his  studies.  With  the 
utmost  care  he  deciphered  the  numerous  legends  and  place  names,  admitting, 
here  and  there,  the  possibility  of  inaccuracy  in  the  readings  due  to  the 
damaged  condition  of  the  globe.  Vignaud,  H.,  in  his  Toscanelli  and  Colum- 
bus, pp.  182-186,  gives  a  list  of  the  numerous  reproductions  of  the  globe 
map,  with  a  brief  word  concerning  each.  It  may  here  be  added  that  an 
excellent  reproduction  of  the  globe,  mounted  as  is  the  original,  and  made 
for  Dr.  W.  B.  James  of  New  York,  in  Niirnberg,  the  Ravenstein  gores 
being  pasted  over  the  prepared  ball,  may  be  seen  in  the  map  department  of 
The  American  Geographical  Society.  A  similar  reproduction  of  the  globe, 
with  mounting  of  wood  instead  of  iron,  was  obtained  by  the  author  for 
exhibition  in  the  Santa  Maria,  Spain's  Official  Replica  of  the  Flagship  of 
Admiral  Columbus,  which  was  to  have  been  exhibited  in  San  Francisco  in 
1915.  It  failed,  however,  to  reach  its  destination,  and  was  returned  to 
Chicago. 

7.  See  Fig.  23. 

8.  The  itemized  statement  of  expenses,  delivered  to  the  Niirnberg  Council 
by  George  Holzschuher,  was  first  published  by  Peitz,  J.  (In:  Mitteilungen 
des  Vereins  fiir  die  Geschichte  der  Stadt  Niirnberg,  Heft  6.  Niirnberg, 
1886.)  It  is  of  sufficient  interest  in  the  history  of  globe  making  to  be  cited 
here.  The  translation  is  Ravenstein's,  pp.  111-112.  "Expenditure  on  the 
globe.  Expenditure,  Niirnberg,  August  26,  1494.  Below  is  to  be  found  a 
statement  of  what  I,  George  Holzschuher  have  expended  by  order  of  my 
lords  of  the  city  treasury,  upon  limning  and  otherwise,  for  making  the 
'apple,'  or  mappa  mundi  in  the  shape  of  a  sphere,  and  also  for  making  the 
map  for  the  clerk's  office,  which  Mr.  Marten  Beham,  having  expended 
thereon  his  art  and  pains,  left  behind  for  the  enjoyment  of  my  lords  of  the 
worshipful  council. 

"Item  first,  to  Glockenthon,  who  painted  the  sphere,  and  spent  15  weeks 
over  it,  fl.  14;  to  his  wife,  fl.  1,  facit,  fl.  15,  Ib.-dn.-  (£2  10s.) 

"Item  paid  for  a  loam  mould  over  which  the  sphere  was  to  have  been 
made,  as  a  guide  for  Kalberger,  28  dn. ;  also  for  linen  for  the  first  sphere, 
21  dn. ;  also  for  wine  and  beer,  and  other  things,  for  the  limner's  dinner 
whilst  painting  the  globe,  and  occasionally  also  for  Peham ;  and  for  bread 
for  cleansing  the  globe,  and  making  it  nice,  fl.  1,  lb.  1,  dn.  16;  also  to 
Gagenhart  for  lettering,  16  dn. ;  fecit,  miscellaneous  expenses. 

fl.  1,  lb.  3,  dn.  21    (14s.  5d.) 

"Item  paid  Glockengiesser  for  a  mould  broken  by  Kalperger,  and  round 
which  Kalperger  was  to  have  made  a  large  sphere,  both  through  N.  Gross 
and  M.  Peham 

fl.  2,  lb.-,  dn.-  (£1.) 

[   56   ] 


Early  Years  of  Great  Geographical  Discoveries. 

"Item  paid  for  white  vellum  (parchment)  covering  the  sphere,  80  dn. ; 
also  for  a  cover  lined  with  skin  to  protect  the  sphere  from  dust,  3  lb., 
20  dn.;  also  to  the  smith  for  two  iron  hoops  within  which  the  sphere 
revolves,  4  lb.  6  dn.;  also  to  the  joiner  for  wooden  stand  of  the  sphere, 
4  lb.  6  dn.  facit,  miscellaneous  expenses 

fl.  1,  lb.  6,  dn.  10  (17s.  7d.) 

"Item  paid  to  Mr.  Marten  Beham  for  a  printed  mappa  mundi,  embracing 
the  whole  world,  which  was  used  for  the  globe,  and  is  to  be  hung  in  the 
town  office,  1  fl.  3  lb.;  also  for  painting,  etc.,  1  fl.;  also  for  lining  and 
glueing  (mounting)  the  same,  5  lb.  10  dn. ;  also  to  the  joiner  for  a  frame 
and  two  panels,  1  fl. ;  also  to  the  starch  painter  for  painting  these  panels, 
4  lb.  6  dn. ;  facit  fl.  4,  lb.  4,  dn.  6  (£2  5s.) 

"Item,  Kalperger  has  not  been  paid  for  making  the  sphere :  he  demands 
3  fl.,  but  owes  for  the  linen  which  was  used  for  the  old  tent  over  the 
'beautiful  fountain,'  in  return  for  which  he  was  to  have  made  the  large 
sphere  ;  he  had  also  broken  the  pattern  or  mould  for  which  2  gulden  (20s) 
had  to  be  paid  to  Glockengiesser ;  he  also  promised  Mr.  Merten  that  if 
he  taught  him  the  art  of  cosmography  or  the  laying  out  (planning)  of  the 
globe  he  would  make  another  sphere  during  the  time." 

9.  An  account  of  October  16,  1510,  reads,  "Item,  1  lb.  Nov  for  a  large 
brass  sign  surrounding  the  map."  This  doubtless  is  a  reference  to  the  globe. 
Ghillany  attributes  this  work  to  Werner.  See  also  Giinther,  S.  Johann 
Werner  von  Niirnberg  und  seine  Beziehungen  zur  mathematischen  und 
physikalischen  Erdkunde.  Halle,   1878. 

10.  Ravenstein,  op.  cit.,  pp.  59-60. 

11.  Ravenstein,  op.  cit.,  pp.  75-76. 

12.  Ravenstein,  op.  cit.,  p.  77. 

13.  D'Avezac,  M.  A.  P.  Sur  un  globe  terrestre  trouve  a  Laon,  anterieur 
a  la  decouverte  de  I'Amerique.  (In:  Bulletin  de  la  Societe  de  Geographic 
dc  France.  Paris,  i860.) 

This  work  contains  an  announcement  of  the  discovery  of  the  globe, 
together  with  a  description  of  the  same. 

Raemdonck,  J.  v.  Les  spheres  celeste  et  terrestre  de  Gerard  Mercator. 
St.  Nicolas,  1874.  pp.  25  ff.  Nordenskiold.  Facsimile  Atlas,  p.  73. 

14.  Britten,  F.  J.  Old  clocks  and  watches  and  their  makers.  New  York, 
1911;  Berthoud,  F.  Histoire  de  la  mesure  du  temps  par  les  horologes. 
Paris,   1849. 

Globe  clocks,  or  clocks  of  which  globes  were  a  conspicuous  feature,  were 
not  uncommon  in  this  period.  See  the  reference,  p.  73,  to  the  Lenox  globe, 
the  reference,  p.  74,  to  the  Jagellonicus  globe,  and  the  reference,  p.  173,  to 
the  work  of  Dasypodius. 

15.  Vignaud,  H.  Toscanelli  and  Columbus.  London,  1902. 

This  is  a  very  remarkable  piece  of  historical  criticism.  Citation  is  given 
for  every  statement  of  special  importance,  including  a  reference  to  those 
students  of  the  question  who  do  not  agree  with  the  author's  point  of  view. 
See  also  this  distinguished  author's  work,  Histoire  critique  de  la  Grande 
Entreprise  de  Christophe  Colomb.  Paris,  1911.  2  vols. 

16.  Las  Casas,  Bartolome  de.  Historia  de  las  Indias.  Madrid,  1875.  Vol. 
I,  p.  92. 

17.  Ulloa,  A.  Histoire  del  S.  D.  Fernando  Colombo.  Venice,  1571.  Chap. 
vii,  p.  15.  See  Churchill,  Voyages,  also  Bourne,  E.  G.,  Spain  in  America.  New 
York,  1904. 

[  57  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

18.  Las  Casas,  op.  cit.,  pp.  224  ff. 

19.  Las  Casas,  op.  cit.,  p.  48. 

20.  Harrisse,  H.  Jean  et  Sebastien  Cabot.  Paris,  1862.  Doc.  X,  p.  324; 
Tarducci,  F.  Di  Giovanni  c  Sebastiano  Caboto.  Venczia,  1892.  p.  351  ; 
Winsor,  J.  Narrative  and  Critical  History  of  America.  Boston,  1884.  Vol. 

in,  pp.  54-/5- 

Harrisse  and  Tarducci  print  the  letter  of  Soncino  in  the  original  Italian  ; 
Winsor  gives  the  first  translation  into  English  (tr.  by  Professor  B.  H. 
Nash).  A  very  superior  work  for  reference  to  the  Cabots  is:  Winship, 
G.  P.  Cabot  Bibliography.  London,   1900. 

21.  Moll,  J.  C.  A.  Johannes  StofBer  von  Justingen,  ein  Characterbild  aus 
dem  ersten  Halbjahrhundert  der  Universitat  Tubingen.  Lindau,   1877. 

22.  This  work  is  referred  to  by  Moll  in  his  chapter  on  "Stofflers 
Schriften." 

23.  Moll,  op.  cit.,  chap,  ix,  "Stoffler  als  Mechaniker,"  refers  to  him  as 
globe  maker  and  as  clock  maker,  with  special  mention  of  his  three  celestial 
globes. 

24.  Giinther  is  in  error  in  referring  to  this  globe  as  the  one  now  in 
Constance. 

25.  Moll,  op.  cit.,  pp.  49-51. 

26.  Giinther,  S.  Geschichte.  pp.  250  ff. 

27.  Aschbach,  J.  v.  Die  Wiener  Universitat  und  ihre  Humanisten  im 
Zeitalters  Kaiser  Maximilians  I.  (In:  Geschichte  der  Wiener  Universitat. 
Wien,  1877.  Vol.  II,  p.  62. 


[   58   ] 


Chapter  VI 
Globes  of  the  Early  Sixteenth  Century 

Summary  of  fifteenth  century  globe  characteristics. — Increasing 
interest  in  globes. — Globes  of  Pope  Julius  II. — Friar  Marco  da 
Benevento. — Importance  of  the  Rosselli  family  of  Florence. — The 
globe  of  Barnaba  Canti. — Friar  Giuliano  Vannelli. — Interest  of 
Trithemius  in  globes. — The  Bunau  globe. — Waldseemiiller's  map 
and  globe. — Liechtenstein  globes. — Biichlin  reference. — Globus 
Mundi. — Welt  Kugel. — Lenox  globe. — Jagellonicus  globe. — 
Hauslab. — Green  globe  of  Paris. — Nordenskiold  gores. — So- 
called  Leonardo  da  Vinci  gores. — Boulengier  gores. — Acton 
globes. — Globes  of  Magellan  and  of  del  Cano. — Globes  of 
Schoner. 

TERRESTRIAL  globes  of  the  early  years  of  great 
geographical  discoveries,  that  is,  of  the  fifteenth 
century,  to  which  reference  was  made  in  the  pre- 
ceding chapter,  appear  to  have  been  constructed  either  of 
metal,  on  the  surface  of  which  the  map  was  engraved,  of 
which  the  Laon  globe  is  an  example ;  of  a  composition  fash- 
ioned into  a  ball  over  a  mould  on  which  strips  of  parchment 
or  paper  were  then  pasted,  having  the  map  drawn  by  hand, 
as  the  Behaim  globe;  or  the  ball  was  of  wood  with  map  in 
manuscript,  as  was  probably  the  globe  attributed  to  John 
Cabot.  Here  were  beginnings,  and  the  following  century 
witnessed  a  remarkable  increase  of  interest  in  globe  con- 
struction. As  the  true  position  of  places  on  the  earth's  sur- 
face, as  well  as  the  distance  between  any  two  places,  could 
best  be  represented  on  a  globe,  cartographers  and  globe 
makers  became  active  in  their  endeavors  to  meet  the  desires 
of  those  interested  in  geography.  They  no  longer  confined 

[  59  ] 


Ik 


PV52GLOBI2AST 
RIF  ..^^^ERi 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

themselves  to  such  globes  as  the  Behaim  and  the  Laon, 
which,  in  reality,  are  artistically  interesting  rather  than 
scientifically  useful,  but  they  sought  to  make  use  of  the  new- 
invention  of  printing.  Maps  giving  the  outlines  of  conti- 
nents,  with  place  names,   rivers,   constellations,   and  star 

names  were  printed  from 
wood  blocks  or  from  copper 
engraved  plates  on  paper 
gores,  which  were  so  fash- 
ioned mathematically  that 
they  could  be  made  to  fit 
the  surface  of  a  prepared 
ball,  with  careful  adjust- 
ment and  manipulation.  In 
this  manner  globes  in  great 
numbers  could  be  prepared, 
with  the  added  advantage 
that  they  were  all  alike,  or 
similar.  The  sixteenth  cen- 
tury soon  furnished  rules 
for  globe-gore  construction, 
and  while  the  methods  of 
globe  making  hitherto  com- 
mon were  not  entirely  given 
over,  as  many  artistic  pieces 
of  the  period,  which  have 
come  down  to  us,  testify, 
the  new  method  was  soon  in  general  favor  and  became  in 
the  course  of  time  practically  the  only  method  employed. 
It  is  the  globe  maker's  method  today. 

If  the  actual  number  of  globes  constructed  shortly  be- 
fore and  shortly  after  1500  appears  to  have  been  small, 
judging  from  the  number  extant,  we  often  find  additional 
assurance  of  interest  in  such  instruments  in  the  use  that  was 
made  of  them  for  illustrative  purposes,  and  for  decoration. 
Terrestrial  and  celestial  globes,  as  well  as  armillary  spheres, 

[  60  ] 


Fig.  26.  Title-page  of  Johann 

Schoner's  Terrae  Descriptio, 

1518. 


Globes  of  the  Early  Sixteenth  Century. 

frequently  appeared  on  title-pages  (Figs.  26,  27),  in  paint- 
ings (Fig.  28),  or  constituted  a  part  of  library  furnishings 
(Fig.  29).^ 


Fig.  27.  Second  Title-page  of  Mauro  Fiorentino's 
Sphera  Volgare,  1537. 


Among  the  ducal  houses,  famous  in  Italy  in  this  period 
for  interest  in  matters  geographical,  none  was  more  con- 
spicuous than  was  the  house  of  Este  of  Ferrara.^  We  have 

[  61  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

an  interesting  letter  dated  Rome,  January  17,  1509,  and 
written  by  Fioramonte  Brognoli  to  Isabel  of  Este,  wife  of 
Francis  II,  Marquis  of  Mantua,  daughter  of  Hercules  I, 
Duke  of  Ferrara,  who  was  responsible  for  the  draughting 
of  the  Cantino  map  of  the  year  1502,^  and  granddaughter 
of  Duke  Borso,  to  whom  Donnus  Nicholas  Germanus  dedi- 
cated or  addressed,  in  1466,  his  twenty-seven  Ptolemy 
maps.*  Brognoli,  having  received  from  the  Marchioness  an 
order  for  a  copy  of  the  globes,  terrestrial  and  celestial,  pos- 
sessed by  Pope  Julius  II,  made  reply  that  "the  map  and 
celestial  signs  which  are  painted  on  two  solid  spheres  in  the 
library  of  the  Pope,  of  which  your  Excellency  would  like  to 
have  copies,  I  have  ordered,  and  the  same  to  be  made  by 
a  good  painter  of  the  Palace,  who  tells  me  that  it  will  take 
some  time  because  the  matter  is  quite  difficult.  I  will  not 
fail  in  care,  and  will  provide  the  necessary  funds,  so  that  as 
soon  as  possible  I  will  send  them  to  you  by  a  trusty  mes- 
senger."^ Again  the  Roman  correspondent  wrote,  the  letter 
bearing  date  February  1,  1505,  "That  master  painter  who 
would  like  to  make  copies  of  the  map  and  the  zodiac  which 
are  in  the  library  of  the  Pope,  about  which  Your  Excellency 
wrote  me  some  time  ago,  tells  me  that  to  make  them  with 
linen  it  will  cost  more  than  forty  ducats,  but  to  draw  them 
on  paper  according  to  a  certain  design  which  is  painted  on 
canvas  in  that  place,  it  would  cost  very  little.  I  thought  I 
would  inform  Your  Excellency  before  giving  the  order, 
that  I  might  ascertain  your  wishes,  for  I  shall  do  exactly 
that  which  you  desire."**  February  20,  1505,  the  Marchion- 
ess replied  from  Mantua,  saying  that  "the  expense  of  forty 
ducats  will  not  deter  us,  if  the  copy  of  the  map  and  of  the 
zodiac  is  well  made  and  is  similar  to  that  found  in  the 
library  of  the  Pope.  You  may  order  it  to  be  made  with 
extreme  diligence  and  with  exactness."^ 

The  globe  of  Pope  Julius  II,  in  question,  must  then  have 
been  constructed  prior  to  1505,  seeing  this  to  be  the  year 
of  the  correspondence  to  which  reference  has  been  riiade 

[  62  ] 


Fig.  28.  Holbein's  Ambassadors,  ca.  1536. 


Globes  of  the  Early  Sixteenth  Century. 

above.  From  the  partial  description  given  in  the  letters  we 
are  led  to  the  conclusion  that  they  were  not  engraved  metal 
globes,  but  their  maps  were  manuscript,  and  were  well 
decorated  by  hand.  The  Vatican  Museum  is  still  in  pos- 
session of  a  celestial  globe  which  may  well  be  one  of  those 
once  belonging  to  Pope  Julius  II,  the  terrestrial  globe 
having  disappeared.  From  the  interesting  description  of 
Denza^  we  learn  that  this  remaining  one  is  a  hollow  wooden 
ball,  95  cm.  in  diameter.  That  there  might  be  an  even  sur- 
face on  which  to  draw  the  star  map,  a  covering  of  plaster 
had  been  provided,  4  mm.  in  thickness.  It  is  furnished  with 
a  somewhat  elaborate  base,  ornamented  with  sphinxes  with 
the  heads  of  eagles  and  the  feet  of  lions.  Its  horizon  circle, 
supported  by  four  quarter  circles,  is  a  band  5  cm.  wide,  the 
surface  of  which  is  divided  into  five  concentric  circles, 
within  which  are  the  names  of  the  several  signs  of  the 
zodiac  in  Latin,  the  names  of  the  days  of  the  month,  and 
the  names  of  the  eight  principal  winds  in  the  Italian  lan- 
guage. Along  the  outer  edge  of  this  horizon  circle  is  the 
following  inscription,  "Daniel  Chassignet.  Fecit.  Romae 
1617,"  a  name  and  date  clearly  applying  only  to  this  circle 
or  to  the  globe's  mounting.  It  has  a  meridian  circle  within 
which  the  sphere  revolves.  On  the  surface  of  the  ball  we 
find  represented  the  principal  circles,  that  is,  the  equator, 
the  tropics,  the  polar  circles,  with  five  meridians,  and  the 
ecliptic,  its  twelve  signs  being  represented  in  gilded  char- 
acters. The  coat  of  arms,  painted  near  the  south  pole,  is 
not  that  of  Pope  Julius  II,  but  of  Cardinal  Gian  Stefano 
Ferrero,  Bishop  of  Bologna,  who  became  a  supporter  of 
Juliani  della  Rovere  in  his  candidacy  for  the  papal  office, 
and  to  which  office  he  was  elected,  becoming  known  as 
Julius  II.  Fiorini  thinks  it  probable  that  the  globe  was 
presented  by  Cardinal  Ferrero  to  the  Pope,  and  that  while 
in  his  possession  the  coat  of  arms  was  painted  on  its  sur- 
face. It  is  indeed  not  improbable  that  it  was  originally  con- 
structed for  the  Cardinal.  Contrary  to  the  opinion  of  Denza, 

[  63  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

Fiorini's  conclusion  is  that  the  decoration  of  the  globe  is  not 
to  be  attributed  to  Giulio  Romano,  a  distinguished  pupil  of 
Raphael,  and  the  arguments  presented  seem  acceptable.^ 

As  proof  of  an  existing  interest  in  globes,  in  Italy,  in 
the  first  years  of  the  sixteenth  century,  other  than  that 
given  by  the  letters  of  Isabel  of  Este,  and  the  globes  of 
Pope  Julius,  we  find  an  allusion  to  the  subject  by  Friar 
Marco  da  Benevento,  member  of  the  order  of  Celestini 
and  a  renowned  mathematician.  In  his  'Orbis  nova  de- 
scriptio,'^*^  which  he  added  to  an  edition  of  Ptolemy,  issued 
in  Rome  in  the  year  1507  or  1508,  he  alludes  to  the  diffi- 
culty of  representing  the  earth  upon  a  solid  sphere,  adding 
that  the  greater  the  size  of  the  same  the  greater  the  diffi- 
culty there  is  in  moving  it,  and  that  the  larger  the  globe 
the  more  difficult  it  is  to  take  in  at  a  glance  any  consider- 
able part  of  the  map.  While  making  no  specific  mention 
of  any  of  the  globe  makers  of  the  time,  his  reference  to  the 
subject  seems  to  assure  us  that  globes  were  objects  more 
or  less  familiar  to  students  of  geography  in  his  day. 

Fiorini  cites  at  some  length  an  inventory  relating  to  the 
printing  establishment  of  Alexander  Rosselli  of  Florence, 
under  whose  father,  Francesco,  this  establishment  became 
famous."  The  father  died  in  the  year  1510,  but  it  is  prob- 
able that  this  artist,  painter,  and  miniaturist,  who  issued 
for  his  establishment  numerous  maps,  printed,  likewise, 
globe  gores.  While  the  inventory  gives  us  intimation  of  his 
great  activity,  we  have  no  further  knowledge  of  his  work 
as  a  globe  maker  than  is  contained  therein.  It  may  well 
have  been  that  the  construction  of  globes  with  printed  gore 
maps  had  its  origin  in  Florence  in  the  very  early  sixteenth 
century,  and  that  a  credit  we  have  been  accustomed  to  give 
to  German  map  makers^"  is  in  reality  due  the  Rosselli  family 
of  Italy,  particularly  Francesco  Rosselli. 

Fiorini  likewise  alludes  to  a  letter  written  by  Friar 
Zenobio  Acciaioli,  dated  Lucca,  May  12,  1509,  and  ad- 
dressed to  the  Florentine,  Luigi  Pietro  Guicciardini,  brother 

[  64  ] 


i,V^^XN^S 


Globes  of  the  Early  Sixteenth  Century. 

of  the  distinguished  historian/^  Request  is  made  in  this 
letter  that  assistance  and  advice  be  given  to  a  brother  monk, 
Barnaba  Canti,  who  had  been  asked  to  describe  a  map  on 
which  the  newly  discovered  lands  were  well  drawn,  there 
being  written  on  the  map  the  history  of  the  islands,  with  a 
description  of  the  lands  and  of  the  customs  of  the  peoples. 
Attention  is  likewise  called  to  a  globe  which  Canti  pos- 
sessed, it  being  designated  as  "sphaerula"  or  small.  The 
letter  further  notes,  "Cupit  autem  illam  Joannes  teutonicus 
astrologus,  ut  ex  suis  ad  me  literis  quas  inclusas  tibi  in  his 
mitto,  videre  poteris."  "John  the  German  astronomer  de- 
sires this  (map?)  as  you  will  be  able  to  see  from  his  letters 
to  me  which  enclosed  I  send  to  you." 

It  is  ingeniously  argued  that  the  Joannes  referred  to  was 
none  other  than  John  Schoner,  who  later  became  famous 
as  mathematician  and  as  map  and  globe  maker,  and  that  the 
globe  referred  to  by  Acciaioli  was  one  in  the  construction 
of  which  the  globe  gores  of  Rosselli  had  been  used,  since 
"Joannes  teutonicus"  in  all  probability  would  not  have 
thought  of  receiving  from  Italy  a  manuscript  globe. 

For  the  history  of  globe  making  as  practiced  in  Florence 
in  these  early  years,  there  is  in  the  record  of  the  delibera- 
tions of  the  Florentine  Signoria,  dated  December  30,  1515, 
an  entry  of  interest."  The  Priors  and  Gonfaloniers  directed 
attention  to  the  sphere,  which  had  been  placed  in  the 
orologia  or  clock  room,  noting  that  the  terrestrial  orb  which 
had  been  painted  thereon  was  greatly  damaged,  "...  super 
qua  depicta  est  figura  et  situs  orbis  terrarum  .  .  .  devas- 
tata  et  male  picta."  They  expressed  a  desire  that  it  should 
be  fully  repaired  and  be  made  suitable  as  an  adornment 
of  the  wonderful  clock,  and  in  keeping  with  the  remark- 
able celestial  sphere  which  was  placed  near  by:  "ut  similis 
sit  et  non  discrepet,  in  sua  qualitate,  a  mirabili  orologio  pre- 
dicto,  et  a  convicina  et  mirabili  palla,  ubi  apparet  figura 
et  ambitus  celi."  Having  knowledge  of  the  ability  and 
skill  of  Friar  Giuliano  Vannelli,  it  was  decided  to  entrust 

[  65  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

the  reconstruction  to  him.  We  learn  that  on  June  28,  1516, 
the  Signoria  directed  payment  of  fifty  large  florins  be  made 
to  Friar  Giuliano,  in  addition  to  the  six  already  paid,  for 
the  painted  sphere;  that  on  July  17,  1516,  the  officers  of 
the  Monte  Comune  directed  the  payment  of  fifty-six  large 
gold  florins  to  "Don  Giuliani  Vanegli"  "in  appreciation  of 
his  work,  and  as  a  reward  for  having  made  one  of  the  two 
balls  of  the  clock,  which  is  in  the  large  room  of  the  Signoria, 
which  ball  he  both  designed  and  painted,  showing  on  it  the 
entire  universe,  according  to  Ptolemy  and  other  authors 
who  deal  with  the  subject."  Fiorini  notes  that  as  at  this  time 
the  terrestrial  sphere  was  damaged  it  probably  was  several 
years  old,  and  that  if  badly  painted  (male  picta)  the  infer- 
ence is,  it  failed  to  record  the  latest  discoveries.  If  the  exact 
date  of  the  construction  of  the  spheres  which  adorn  this 
clock  cannot  be  ascertained,  it  was  at  least  before  1500.^'' 

We  have  further  evidence  of  Vannelli's  interest  in  globe 
construction  contained  in  a  letter  dated  Rome,  November, 
1524,  and  addressed  to  Cardinal  Giovanni  Salviati,  a  legate 
of  Lombardy.  "Your  Excellency  has  asked  me  to  make  for 
you  a  small  ball  de  situ  orbis,  of  the  size  and  character  of 
that  of  Giovanni  Ruccellai.  ...  I  have  made  the  said 
ball,  and  have  varnished  it,  but  the  weather  being  bad  it 
will  not  be  dry  for  eight  or  ten  days.  .  .  .  Your  Excel- 
lency also  tells  me  that  you  would  like  to  have  a  large 
globe  similar  to  that  of  Mons.  R.  Rodulphis,  which  I  have 
begun. 'If  you  desire  that  I  should  go  on  with  the  work,  I 
shall  willingly  do  so,  putting  aside  all  other  work  to  serve 

5516 

you. 

To  the  interest  in  globe  making  north  of  the  Alps  in  the 
first  quarter  of  the  sixteenth  century  attention  may  next  be 
directed.  In  a  letter  written  by  Johannes  Trithemius  to 
Vuilhelmus  Veldicus  Monapius,  dated  August  12,  1507, 
may  be  found  an  early  allusion  to  globes.  He  says :  "Orbem 
terrae  marisqui  et  insularum  quem  pulchre  depictum  in 
Vuormotia  scribis  esse  venalem,  me  quidem  consequi  posse 

[  66  1 


bJO 


o 

U 

d 

CO 
bio 


Globes  of  the  Early  Sixteenth  Century. 

obtarum,  sed  quadraginta  pro  illo  expendere  florenos,  nemo 
mihi  facile  persuadet.  Comparavi  autem  mihi,  ante  paucos 
dies,  pro  aere  modico  sphaeram  orbis  pulchram  in  quantitate 
parva  .  .  ."  "I  wanted  to  buy  a  finely  painted  globe  of 
the  earth,  seas,  and  islands,  which  I  wrote  was  for  sale  in 
Worms,  but  I  could  hardly  be  induced  to  give  such  a  price 
for  it  as  forty  florins.  I  purchased,  however,  a  few  days 
since  at  a  low  price,  a  beautiful  terrestrial  globe  of  small 
size."^^  He  wrote  further,  "Henricum  de  Bunau  dies  vita 
audini  defunctum,  sed  libros  eius  et  globum  cosmographiae 
quem  alim  comparavit  ex  officina  tua  remanisse  apud 
Saxoniae  Principes,  quod  tu  existimas  non  audini."  "I  am 
informed  that  Henry  Bunau  died  some  time  ago,  but  I  never 
heard  it  said  that  his  books  and  the  cosmographical  globe 
which  he  bought  in  your  work-shop  remained  with  the 
Princes  of  Saxony,  as  you  believe."^^  It  has  been  thought  by 
some  that  the  globe  referred  to  as  having  been  purchased 
in  Worms  was  the  globe  of  Waldseemiiller. 

Since  the  discovery  in  1902  of  the  long-lost  Waldsee- 
miiller maps  of  1507  and  of  1516  by  Professor  Joseph 
Fischer,  S.  J.,  in  the  library  of  Prince  de  Waldburg- 
Wolfegg  (Fig.  30),  great  interest  has  centered  especially  in 
the  work  of  that  early  German  map  maker.  As  the  new 
transatlantic  discoveries  of  the  Spanish  and  the  Portuguese 
greatly  quickened  interest  in  geographical  science  and  made 
necessary  the  construction  of  new  maps  in  rapid  succession, 
Germany,  already  a  land  in  which  the  renaissance  spirit  had 
found  an  enthusiastic  reception,  and  whose  people  were 
awake  to  every  new  interest,  soon  became  a  center  for  the 
spread  of  information  concerning  the  new  regions.  Com- 
mercially important  trade  cities  of  this  country  had  been  for 
some  time  in  intimate  touch  with  the  important  maritime 
trade  centers  of  Spain  and  Portugal.  Word  of  the  newest 
discoveries  was  quickly  carried  over  the  Alps  to  France  and 
to  Germany,  and  the  latest  publication  of  the  writer  on 

[  67  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

matters  geographical  had  its  references  to  the  parts  of  the 
world  newly  found  of  which  Ptolemy  had  not  known. 

One  of  the  first  German  geographers  of  the  century,  and 
now  justly  famed  as  one  of  the  most  distinguished  of  the 
period,  was  Martin  Waldseemiiller  (ca.  1470-1522  ca.), 
whose  name,  according  to  the  practice  of  the  time,  was 
classicized  as  Hylacomylus/^  So  significant  was  the  influ- 
ence of  Waldseemiiller  in  the  mapping  of  the  New  World 
that  a  somewhat  detailed  word  concerning  him  may  here 
well  be  given.  When  Duke  Rene  of  Lorraine  (1451-1508) 
became  a  patron  of  learning,  with  particular  interest  in 
cosmography  or  geography,  the  cartographical  studies  of 
the  Germans  began  to  have  a  place  of  far-reaching  impor- 
tance. It  was  under  this  enlightened  duke  that  the  little 
town  of  St.  Die  became  a  center  of  culture.  Here  was 
organized  the  Vosgian  Gymnasium, '^  a  society  of  learned 
men  not  unlike  the  Platonic  Academy  of  Florence  or  the 
Danubian  Society,  Vienna.  Of  this  St.  Die  coterie  none 
was  more  prominent  than  Jean  Bassin  de  Sandacourt,^'^ 
the  translator  of  the  'Four  Voyages'  of  Amerigo  Vespucci 
from  the  French  into  the  Latin,  Lud,  the  ducal  secretary 
and  author  of  an  important  little  work  of  but  few  pages, 
which  he  called  'Speculi  orbis  succinciss  .  .  .  ,'*^  and 
Waldseemiiller,  the  professor  of  cosmography,  the  author 
of  the  'Cosmographiae  Introductio  .  .  .  ,'^^  and  a  cartog- 
rapher of  great  skill,  who,  with  Ringmann,  planned  and 
carried  well  on  toward  completion,  as  early  as  1507  or  1508, 
an  edition  of  Ptolemy,  which  in  1513  was  printed  in  the 
city  of  Strassburg.^*  It  probably  was  as  early  as  1505  that 
the  plan  was  under  consideration  for  a  new  translation  of 
Ptolemy  from  the  Greek  into  the  Latin,  and  that  thought 
perhaps  had  its  inspiration  in  the  letters  of  Vespucci,  in 
which  he  gave  an  account  of  his  four  voyages,  and  in  the 
new  chart  which  but  recently  had  fallen  into  the  hands  of 
Ringmann.  These  charts,  says  Lud,  in  his  'Speculum,'  came 
from  Portugal,  which,  if  true,  leads  one  to  the  belief  that 

[  68  ] 


o 


■■p 


a 
<5 


a, 


o 


CO 


Globes  of  the  Early  Sixteenth  Century. 

they  exhibited  genuine  Vespucian  data.^^  Whatever  the 
truth  concerning  the  origin  of  these  charts,  that  determina- 
tion became  a  starting  point  for  a  most  important  evolu- 
tion in  cartographical  history  of  the  world."''  In  April,  1507, 
Waldseemiiller  had  written  to  his  friend,  Amerbach,  in 
Basel,  "Non  credo  te  latere  nos  Ptholomei  cosmographiam, 
recognitio  et  adiectis  quibusdam  novis  tabulis  impressuros 
in  oppido  Divi  Deodati.  .  .  .  Solidum  quod  ad  generale 
Ptholomei  paravimus  nondum  impressum  est,  erit  autem 
impressum  infra  mensis  spacium."^^  "I  think  you  know  al- 
ready that  I  am  on  the  point  of  printing  in  the  town  of 
St.  Die  (Lorraine),  the  Cosmography  of  Ptolemy,  after 
having  added  to  the  same  some  new  maps.  .  .  .  the  globe 
comprising  Ptolemy  in  general,  which  we  have  prepared, 
is  not  yet  printed,  but  will  be  so  in  a  month."  While  great 
interest  centers  in  these  "new  maps,"  prepared  for  the  pro- 
posed edition  of  Ptolemy,  a  greater  interest  now  centers 
in  the  map  to  which  Waldseemiiller  repeatedly  alludes  in 
the  years  1507-1511,  especially  in  his  'Cosmographiae  In- 
troductio'  (Fig.  31),  which  map  it  was  the  good  fortune  of 
Professor  Joseph  Fischer,  S.  J.,  to  bring  to  light  in  the  year 
1902,  as  noted  above.^^  In  the  dedication  of  his  little  book 
to  the  Emperor  Maximilian,  he  says,  "Hinc  factu  est  vt 
me  libros  Ptholomei  ad  exeplar  Grecu  quorunda  ope  p 
virili  recognoscete  &  quatuor  Americi  Vespucii  navigationu 
lustratioes  adiiciete:  totius  orbis  typu  ta  in  solido  q3plano 
(velut  preuiam  quanda  ysagogen)  p  comuno  studiosoru 
vtilitate  parauerim."^^  "Therefore  studying  to  the  best  of 
my  ability  and  with  the  aid  of  several  persons,  the  Books 
of  Ptolemy  from  a  Greek  copy,  and  adding  the  Relations 
of  the  Four  Voyages  of  Amerigo  Vespucci,  I  have  prepared 
for  the  general  use  of  scholars  a  map  of  the  whole  world, 
like  an  introduction,  so  to  speak,  both  in  the  solid  and  on 
a  plane."  Waldseemiiller  says  further,  wherein  he  gives  a 
description  of  his  new  map,  "Propositum  est  hoc  libello 
quandam  Cosmographie  introductione  scribere;  quam  nos 

[  69  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

tarn  in  solido  93  piano  depinximus.  In  solido  quidem  spacio 
exclusi  strictissime.  Sed  latius  in  piano.  .  .  ."^°  "The  pur- 
pose of  this  little  book  is  to  write  a  description  of  the  world 
map,  which  we  have  designed,  both  as  a  globe  and  as  a 
projection.  The  globe  I  have  designed  on  a  small  scale,  the 
map  on  a  larger." 

From  the  above  citation  it  appears  that  as  early  as  April, 
1507,  the  same  preparation  had  been  made  for  a  globe  that 
had  been  made  for  the  issue  of  a  large  world  map.  The 
map,  as  noted,  has  been  found,  but  neither  a  globe  nor  a 
set  of  globe  gores  is  known  bearing  the  indisputable  evi- 
dence of  his  authorship.  In  the  library  of  Prince  Liechten- 
stein, however,  is  a  somewhat  crudely  executed  gore  map 
(Fig.  32)  which,  according  to  certain  cartographical  stu- 
dents, should  be  accepted  as  a  copy  of  the  work  to  which 
the  allusions  are  made  in  the  'Cosmographiae.'^^  These  gores, 
twelve  in  number,  and  each  12  cm.  in  length,  this  length 
representing  the  length  of  a  meridian  of  the  globe  ball 
which  the  gores  could  be  made  to  cover,  were  printed  from 
a  wood  engraved  block.  They  exhibit  the  Old  World,  in 
the  main,  in  accord  with  the  Ptolemaic  idea,  and  the  New 
World  with  a  close  resemblance  to  the  Canerio  map  record, 
and  that  of  Waldseemiiller's  world  map  of  1507.^^  The 
North  American  region  is  nameless,  but  the  South  American 
region  bears  conspicuously  the  name  "America."  At  inter- 
vals of  ten  degrees  lines  of  latitude  and  longitude  are 
marked.  As  a  title  to  a  lithographic  reproduction  of  this 
map  issued  some  years  since  by  the  Prince,  is  the  subscrip- 
tion "Erster  gedruckter  Globus.  Martin  Hylocomylus 
(Waltzemiiller).  Gehort  wahrscheinlich  zo  seinem  1509 
herausgegebenen  Buche  Globus  Mundi."  "First  printed 
globe.  Martin  Hylacomylus  (Waltzemiiller).  Probably 
belonging  to  his  Globus  Mundus  which  appeared  in  1509."^^ 

That  which  adds  special  significance  to  this  young  Ger- 
man's representations  of  the  new  lands,  so  far  as  our  study 
of  globes  is  concerned,   is  the  repeated  recurrence   of  his 

[  70  ] 


V 


o 


a; 

S 


rt 


'13 


en 
<u 
;-. 

O 

o 

o 

o 

r\ 

CO 

bJD 


Globes  of  the  Early  Sixteenth  Century. 

particular  outlines  or  contours  in  the  globe  maps  of  the 
first  quarter  of  the  century,  produced  by  such  cartographers 
as  Johann  Schoner  of  Niirnberg,  and  by  those  of  his  school, 
as  will  be  noted  below.  Both  the  globe  and  the  large  world 
map  were  doubtless  printed  in  large  numbers  and  widely 
distributed.  Waldseemiiller  states  in  a  legend  on  his  marine 
chart  of  1516  that  he  had  printed  his  map  of  1507  in  one 
thousand  copies,^*  but  one  of  which  is  now  known. 

In  a  little  tract,  printed  in  Strassburg  in  the  year  1509, 
there  appears  to  be  a  reference  to  a  globe  which  may  be 
that  constructed  by  Waldseemiiller.  It  is  this  reference 
which  the  Prince  of  Liechtenstein,  as  noted  above,  has  taken 
as  a  reference  to  the  gore  map,  a  copy  of  which  is  in  his 
collection.  The  title  of  this  tract  reads,  "Diss  biichlin  saget 
wie  die  zwe  durchliichtigste  herre  her  Fernandus,  K.  zu 
Castilien  und  herr  Emanuel,  K.  zu.  Portugal  haben  das 
weyte  mor  ersuchet  unnd  funden  vil  Insulen  unnd  ein 
Niiwe  welt  von  wilden  nackenden  Leiiten  vormals  vnbe- 
kant."  "Gedruct  zii  Strassburg  durch  Johane  Griiniger  Im 
lar  M.CCCCC.IX  vff  Letare.  Wie  du  aber  dye  Kugel  du 
beschreibung  der  gantzenn  welt  verston  soltt  wiirst  die 
hernach  linden  vnnd  lesen."  "This  little  book  relates  how 
the  two  most  illustrious  Lords  Ferdinand,  King  of  Castile 
and  Emanuel,  King  of  Portugal  have  searched  through  the 
wide  seas  and  discovered  many  islands  and  a  new  world 
and  naked  peoples  hitherto  unknown."  "Printed  at  Strass- 
burg by  Johann  Griiniger.  In  the  year  MCCCCCIX  on 
Letaro.  But  how  you  shall  understand  the  globe  and  the 
description  of  the  whole  world  )'ou  will  hereafter  find  out 
and  read."^^  Harrisse  thinks  it  probable  that  a  real  globe 
accompanied  and  was  sold  with  this  little  volume.^^ 

In  the  same  year,  1509,  there  issued  from  the  press  of 
Griiniger  a  second  volume,  in  character  somewhat  like  the 
preceding,  but  in  the  Latin  language.  In  this  the  allusion 
to  the  globe  is  more  definite,  for  its  title  seems  to  assure  us 
that  it  was  prepared  to  accompany  a  real  globe.  This  title 

[  71  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

reads,  "Globus  mundi  Declaratio  slue  descriptio  mundi  et 
totius  orbis  terrarum.  globulo  rotundo  comparati  vt  spera 
solida.  Qua  cuiuis  etia  mediocriter  docto  ad  oculu  videre 
licet  antipodes  esse,  quos  pedes  nostris  oppositi  sunt." 
"Valete  feliciter  ex  Argentina  ultima  Augusti.  Anno  post 
natu  salutatore.  M.D.ix.  Johannes  griiniger  imprimebat. 
Adelpho  castigatore,"  "The  world  globe.  Exposition  or  de- 
scription of  the  world  and  of  the  terrestrial  sphere  con- 
structed as  a  round  globe  similar  to  a  solid  sphere,  whereby 
every  man  even  of  moderate  learning  can  see  with  his  own 
eyes  that  there  are  antipodes  whose  feet  are  opposite 
ours.  .  .  .  Farewell,  Strassburg  on  the  last  day  of  August 
A.  D.  1509.  Printed  by  Johann  Griiniger.  Corrected  by 
Adolphus."^^  Neither  the  author  of  this  tract  nor  the  maker 
of  the  globe  is  known  of  certainty.  They  have  been  attrib- 
uted to  Glareanus  as  well  as  to  Waldseemiiller. 

There  is  still  a  third  volume  printed  by  Griiniger  in  this 
year,  1509,  which,  however,  appears  to  be  but  little  more 
than  a  German  translation  of  the  'Globus  Mundi,'  The 
title,  slightly  altered,  reads,  "Der  welt  kugel  Beschrybiing 
der  Welt  und  dess  gatzen  Erttreichs  hie  angezogt  iind  ver- 
gleicht  einer  rotunden  kugeln  die  dan  sunderlich  gemacht 
hie  zii  gehorede  darin  der  Kauffma  und  ein  ietlicher  sehen 
iind  mercken  mag  wie  die  menschen  unde  gege  uns  wone  iin 
wie  die  son  umbgang,  herin  beschriben  mit  vil  seltzame 
dinge  (wood  cut  of  globe)  Getrucht  zii  Strassburg.  Von 
Johanne  Gruniger  in  yar.  M.D.ix.  uif  ostern.  Johanne 
Adelpho  castigator."  "Description  of  the  world  globe,  of 
the  world  and  the  entire  terrestrial  sphere  here  constructed 
and  made  to  resemble  a  round  ball  and  is  so  arranged  that 
the  merchant  and  every  man  may  clearly  see  how  that  men 
live  underneath  us,  and  here  may  be  seen  how  the  sun 
moves  about  (the  earth)  with  many  wonderful  things. 
Printed  at  Strassburg.  By  Johann  Griiniger  in  the  year  1 509 
at  easter.  Johann  Adelpho  corrector."^^  This  can  as  con- 
fidently be  taken  to  refer  to  a  real  globe  as  the  title  in  the 

[  72  1 


Fig.  34.  Lenox  Globe,  1510. 


Fig.  35.  Lenox  Globe  in  Hemispheres. 


(Bldbm  trnvioi 
^edaratiofiuc  t^efcriptto  munt>t 

nconne  oibis  ttmnjm.globulo  rorDndocompanriTtlpiralbU 
da.)6lu4  cuiuM  cni  mcduxriccronao  adomuTidcrc  licaan/ 
iipod(8(flex)no)ipcdce  noftns  oppofiti  funuu  quaUrcr  in  Tna/ 
(liuqsoibiepambemmcs  vicamagcrt  qaeunt  fibmttfck  fin/ 
euliitmr  loa  lUulh'jincsiufCimcn  terra  in  Ta<no  aeit  pcmkre 
Tulcnirioto  odnum  (utlam.'iUjUf  pcrmultio  oc  qiuru  cbw 
torjru  pone  nopcrdb  amcnco  rcpcitb 


Globes  of  the  Early  Sixteenth  Century. 

tract  to  which  reference  has  just  been  made.  It  is  probable 
that  we  can  obtain  some  idea  of  the  appearance  of  the  globe 
from  the  small  woodcut  printed  on  the  title-page  of  both 
the  Latin  and  the  German  editions,  of  which  a  conspicuous 
feature  is  the  representation  of  a  small  land  area  southwest 
of  Africa,  bearing  the  inscription  "Nliw  welt"  (Fig.  33). 
As  the  little  book  was  issued  in  both  Latin  and  German, 
Harrisse  thinks  it  probable 
that  two  editions  of  the 
globe  likewise  appeared.^^ 

The  Lenox  globe*°  is 
often  referred  to  as  the 
oldest  extant  post-Colum- 
bian globe.  It  is  an  en- 
graved copper  ball  of  ex- 
cellent workmanship,  127 
mm.  in  diameter  (Figs.  34, 
35),  neither  signed  nor 
dated,  and  is  without 
mountings.  A  critical  study 
of  its  geographical  records, 
particularly  of  the  New 
World  representations,  has 
led  to  the  conclusion  that 
it  was  made  as  early  as 
1510.  The  two  sections  or 
hemispheres  of  which  it  is 
composed  are  joined  at  the 

equator.  Neither  parallels  nor  meridians  are  indicated,  and 
though  a  striking  error  appears  in  giving  to  the  eastern  hemi- 
sphere, or  the  Old  World,  too  great  an  extension  in  longi- 
tude, the  principal  latitudes  are  well  given.  The  globe  was 
found  in  the  year  1850,  in  Paris,  by  Mr.  Richard  Hunt,  by 
whom  it  was  presented  to  Mr,  James  Lenox,  and  is  now  one 
of  the  choicest  objects  in  that  great  collector's  library,  which 
library  constitutes  an  important  part  of  the  New  York 

[  73  ] 


AlttOTOX' 


Fig.  33.  Globus  Mundi,  1509. 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

Public  Library.  In  its  New  World  representation,  South 
America  appears  as  a  large  island  having  three  regional 
names,  "iSIundus  Novus,"  "Terra  Sanctae  Crucis,"  and 
"Terra  de  Brazil."  "Isabel"  (Cuba),  "Spagnolla"  (Haiti), 
and  a  few  unnamed  islands  belonging  to  the  West  Indies 
have  been  outlined.  In  the  place  of  North  America  there 
are  scattered  islands,  one  of  which,  located  near  the  north- 
west extremity  of  "Terra  de  Brazil,"  bears  the  name 
"Zipangri"  (Japan),  and  one  in  the  far  north,  but  un- 
named, clearly  resembles  the  Cortereal  region,  as  it  appears 
on  the  Cantino  and  on  the  Canerio  map.  A  few  of  the  many 
islands  in  the  eastern  seas  are  designated  by  name  as 
"Taprobana,"  "Madagascar,"  and  "Seilan." 

A  globe  but  little  known,  but  resembling  in  a  striking 
manner  the  Lenox,  is  that  belonging  to  the  Jagellonicus 
University  Library  of  Cracow,  Poland.*^  It  is  a  gilded  cop- 
per ball,  7.3  cm.  in  diameter  (Figs.  36,  37),  and  constitutes 
a  part  of  a  fine  old  clock  of  the  sixteenth  century.  Merid- 
ians and  parallels  are  engraved  and  numbered  on  its  sur- 
face at  intervals  of  ten  degrees,  the  prime  meridian  passing 
through  the  island  Ferro.  While  it  is  neither  signed  nor 
dated,  there  is  scarcely  a  doubt  that  it  is  as  old  as  the  Lenox 
globe;  indeed,  the  geographical  features  of  the  two  globes 
are  so  similar  that  they  appear  to  be  the  work  of  the  same 
globe  maker,  or  copies  of  a  common  original,  yet  it  is  note- 
worthy that  the  nomenclature  of  the  Jagellonicus  globe  is 
somewhat  richer.  The  large  island  which  lies  southeast  of 
Madagascar  and  is  nameless  on  the  Lenox  appears  on  the 
Jagellonicus  with  a  very  interesting  inscription,  reading 
"America  noviter  reperta."  Comparing  the  coast  of  "Mun- 
dus  Novus"  with  the  coast  of  this  "America  noviter  re- 
perta," Tadeus  Estreicher  finds  support  for  the  belief  that 
the  globe  was  constructed  soon  after  the  year  1507,  in 
which  year  Waldseemiiller  suggested  the  name  America  for 
the  region  discovered  by  Amerigo  Vespucci.  He,  however, 
seems  not  to  have  noticed  the  possibility  that  the  inscrip- 

[  74  ] 


Fig.  36.  Jagellonicus  Globe,   1510. 


<3.c«^  c  tCo  vi/ic^/V3 . 


Fig.  37.  Jagellonicus  Globe  in  Hemispheres. 


Globes  of  the  Early  Sixteenth  Century. 

tion  appearing  on  this  large  island  indicated  not  only  an 
acquaintance,  on  the  part  of  the  Jagellonicus  cartographer, 
with  Waldseemiiller's  suggestion  as  to  the  name  America, 
but  a  belief  that  America  was  actually  located  in  this  par- 
ticular region.  In  his  chapter  on  climates  Waldseemiiller 
says,  "Atq3  in  sexto  climate  Antarcticu  versus  &  pars  ex- 
trema  Africae  nuper  reperta  &  Zamzibar  lauva  minor  & 
Seula  insule  &  quarta  orbis  pars  (quam  quia  Americus 
inveuit  Amerigen  quasi  Americi  terra  siue  America  nuncu- 
pare  licet)  sitae  sunt."  "In  the  sixth  climate  toward  the 
Antarctic  there  are  situated  the  farthest  part  of  Africa,  re- 
cently discovered,  the  islands  Zanzibar,  the  lesser  Java, 
and  Seula,  and  the  fourth  part  of  the  earth,  which,  because 
Amerigo  discovered  it,  we  may  call  Amerige,  the  land  of 
Amerigo,  so  to  speak,  or  America.""  Following  the  above, 
Waldseemiiller  notes  what  Pomponius  Mela  has  to  say 
concerning  "these  southern  climates,"  that  is,  concerning 
this  antipodal  region. 

In  the  rich  cartographical  collection  of  Prince  Liechten- 
stein there  may  be  found,  in  addition  to  the  globe  gores 
referred  to  above,  an  interesting  globe,  usually  referred  to 
as  the  mounted  Hauslab  globe.*^  It  is  of  wood,  having  a 
diameter  of  about  37  cm.  and  is  covered  with  a  prepara- 
tion on  which  a  world  map  has  been  drawn  or  painted.  It 
is  furnished  with  a  wooden  base,  a  meridian  and  a  horizon 
circle  of  brass,  and  an  axis  of  iron  on  which  it  turns,  all 
of  which  furnishings,  however,  appear  to  be  of  later  date 
than  the  sphere  itself.  Though  neither  signed  nor  dated, 
it  exhibits  many  features  which  suggest  a  close  relation- 
ship with  the  globes  of  Johann  Schoner;  indeed,  it  is  not 
improbable  that  it  is  an  early  example  of  his  workmanship. 
"I  am  of  the  opinion,"  says  Luksch,  "that  the  globe  of 
Schoner  of  1515  and  the  Hauslab  globe  were  drawn  from 
one  common  original  sketch,"  a  conclusion  based  largely 
upon  the  fact  that  on  the  two  globes  the  outlines  of  the 
New  World  are  almost  identical.  As  to  the  date  when  con- 

[  75  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

structed,  a  comparison  with  other  globes  of  the  second 
decade  of  the  century  has  led  to  the  conclusion  that  it 
must  have  been  prior  to  the  year  1515,  and  perhaps  as 
early  as  1513.  In  its  representation  of  the  Old  World,  the 
land  is  made  to  extend  through  240  degrees,  counting  from 
the  island  of  Porto  Santo,  whose  meridian  has  been  taken 
as  the  prime  meridian.  The  northern  section  of  the  New 
World  is  given  the  name  "Par(ias),"  the  last  letters  of  the 
word  having  been  obliterated  by  age,  while  the  southern 
section  is  called  "America."  The  great  austral  land  south 
of  the  apex  of  the  southern  continent,  appearing  on  the 
Schoner  globe  of  1515  as  "Brasilie  regio,"  is  omitted  on 
the  Hauslab  globe.  The  continents,  rivers,  and  mountains 
represented  are  very  dark  in  color,  and  were  probably  orig- 
inally blue,  black,  or  red,  and  the  seas  are  a  dark  blue.  The 
equator,  as  drawn  on  the  surface  of  the  sphere,  is  divided 
into  degrees,  represented  alternately  in  white  and  black, 
and  every  tenth  degree  is  indicated  by  an  appropriate  num- 
ber, beginning,  as  stated  above,  at  the  island  of  Porto  Santo. 
By  way  of  decoration  a  border  of  gold  is  given  to  the  lines 
representing  the  equator,  the  tropics,  and  the  polar  circles. 
In  the  geographical  department  of  the  Bibliotheque 
Nationale  of  Paris  is  a  globe  referred  to  in  cartographical 
literature  as  the  Green  globe,  or  the  Quirini  globe,  the  first 
name  being  given  to  it  by  Gabriel  Marcel,**  by  reason  of 
the  prominence  of  the  color  green  employed  in  painting 
the  seas  (Fig.  38).  It  is  an  unsigned  and  undated  wooden 
sphere,  24  cm.  in  diameter.  Its  surface  appears  to  have 
been  covered  with  a  coating  of  paint,  originally  white,  and 
on  this  the  world  map  was  drawn.  There  is  much  artistic 
skill  displayed  in  the  coast  configurations,  with  the  deeply 
shaded  seaboards  making  the  land  appear  to  rise  above  the 
ocean  surface,  and  in  the  representation  of  the  islands,  most 
of  which  are  made  conspicuous  in  red  or  gold.  The  inscrip- 
tions in  dark  brown,  perhaps  originally  black,  are  neatly 
written,  clearly  suggesting  that  the  globe  was  constructed 

[  76  ] 


Fig.  38.  The  Green  Globe,  1515. 


Globes  of  the  Early  Sixteenth  Century. 

in  the  first  quarter  of  the  sixteenth  century,  perhaps  as 
early  as  1513  or  1515.  The  equator,  the  tropics,  and  the 
polar  circles  are  traced  in  gold;  the  degrees  of  latitude  and 
longitude  are  marked  in  red,  and  at  intervals  of  ten  de- 
grees. The  prime  meridian  is  made  to  pass  through  the 
Cape  Verde  Islands,  islands  referred  to  as  "Insule  Por- 
tugalensium  invente  anno  Domini  1472."  This  globe  shows 
a  striking  resemblance  to  those  of  Schoner  of  1515,  a  fact 
which  has  led  Marcel  to  refer  it  to  the  Schonerian  school, 
though  not  to  attribute  it  directly  to  Schoner  himself,  A 
very  important  and  interesting  feature  of  the  globe  is  the 
appearance  of  the  name  "America"  no  less  than  four  times 
in  the  New  World;  twice  in  what  we  now  call  North 
America  and  twice  in  South  America.  It  is,  indeed,  the 
oldest  known  cartographical  monument  on  which  the  name 
America  is  given  both  to  the  north  and  the  south  conti- 
nental areas.  In  the  southern  continent  we  read  "America 
ab  inuentore  nuncupata,"  and  near  the  Antilles  "Iste  insule 
per  Columbus  genuensem  almirantem  et  mandato  regis 
castelle  invente  sunt."  "These  islands  were  discovered  by 
Columbus,  a  Genoese  admiral,  by  command  of  the  king  of 
Castile."  Harrisse  observes  that  it  appears  the  cartographer 
thought  of  Columbus  as  the  discoverer  of  the  West  India 
Islands  only,  and  that  he  thought  the  honor  of  the  discovery 
of  the  American  continents,  north  and  south,  belongs  to 
Vespucius.*^  An  austral  land  appears,  though  nameless, 
which  Schoner  called  "Brasilie  regio"  on  his  globe  of  1515, 
and  "Brasilia  inferior"  on  his  globe  of  1520. 

Nordenskiold  has  described  a  set  of  twelve  globe  gores, 
engraved  on  wood,  belonging  to  his  own  collection,  which 
he  assigns  to  the  year  1518.*^  Of  these  particular  gores  three 
sets  are  known ;  one  being  in  the  collection  of  Prince  Liech- 
tenstein (Fig.  39),  one  in  the  Bibliotheque  Nationale,  and 
one,  as  noted,  in  the  possession  of  Nordenskiold.  On  these 
gore  maps  North  America  bears  the  name  "Terra  Cuba" 
and   "Parias."   South   America   has    the  name    "America" 

[  77  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

inscribed  in  large  letters,  with  an  accompanying  legend 
reading  "Terra  Noua  Inuenta  est  Anno  1497."  "The  New- 
World  discovered  in  the  year  1497.""  The  austral  land, 
appearing  on  the  Schoner  globes,  is  wanting.  By  reason  of 
the  fact  that  the  names  of  but  two  European  cities  are 
inscribed,  these  being  "Ingolstadt"  and  "St.  Jacobus,"  the 
suggestion  has  been  made  that  the  map  is  the  work  of 
Apianus,  a  celebrated  geographer  of  Ingolstadt,  author  of 
the  important  map  of  1520  and  a  globe  maker.*^  In  their 
general  features  these  gores  are  of  the  Schonerian  type, 
which  we  may  also  characterize  as  Lusitano-Germanic. 

In  the  Royal  Collections  of  Windsor  Castle  may  be 
found  a  set  of  eight  globe  gores  (Fig.  135),  attributed  by 
Major  to  Leonardo  da  Vinci,  but  with  very  little  more 
reason  for  the  assignment  than  the  fact  that  they  were  found 
in  a  collection  of  papers  in  the  handwriting  of  that  famous 
artist.  They  are  drawn  as  equilateral  triangles,  each  repre- 
senting one  eighth  of  the  earth's  surface,  not  as  biangles, 
which  is  the  usual  form  for  early  globe  gores.*^  Major  de- 
scribed the  map  as  the  oldest  known  on  which  the  name 
America  appears,  giving  as  the  probable  date  of  construc- 
tion'the  year  1514,  which  date  is  thought  by  Harrisse  to  be 
five  or  six  years  too  early.^*'  Such  a  distinction  as  was  claimed 
for  the  record  of  the  name  America  by  Major,  being  likewise 
assigned  at  various  times  to  other  early  maps,  has  at  last 
been  definitely  fixed  as  belonging  to  the  world  map  of 
Waldseemiiller  of  1507."  The  outlines  of  the  New  World 
bear  a  resemblance  to  those  found  in  the  Lenox  and  the 
Jagellonicus  globes.  The  North  American  region  is  repre- 
sented by  two  islands,  one  of  which  bears  the  name  "Baca- 
lar,"  the  other  "Terra  Florida."  South  America,  a  large 
island,  has  conspicuously  inscribed  the  name  "America," 
together  with  a  few  prominent  coast  names.  These  gores 
are  chiefly  of  interest  by  reason  of  their  peculiar  form. 

An  interesting  set  of  globe  gores  of  the  first  quarter  of 
the  sixteenth  century  is  that  attributed  to  Boulengier,  of 

[  78  ] 


Fig.  39.  Liechtenstein  Globe  Gores,  ca.  1518. 


Globes  of  the  Early  Sixteenth  Century. 

which  but  one  copy,  now  belonging  to  the  New  York  Public 
Library,  is  known. ^"  These  gores,  twelve  in  number  (Fig. 
40),  were  printed  from  a  copper  engraved  plate  18  by  36 
cm.  in  size,  but  bear  neither  date  nor  name  of  author.  The 
title  appearing  across  the  bottom  of  the  map  reads,  "Vni- 
versalis  cosmographie  descriptio  tam  in  solido  quem  piano." 
They  were  found  in  a  copy  of  Waldseemiiller's  'Cosmo- 
graphiae  Introductio,'  printed  at  Lyons  by  Jean  de  la  Place, 
but  undated.  Harrisse  gives  as  the  probable  date  of  the  pub- 
lication between  November  27,  1517,  and  May  26,  1518.^^ 
With  this  engraved  world  map  were  found  two  other  copper 
plates,  one  bearing  the  title  "Astrolabium  Phisicum,"  the 
other  "Motus  novae  spere  et  trepidacionis  spere  MDXIV," 
and  signed  "Artificis  Ludovici  Boulengier,  Allebie,  1514." 
As  this  edition  of  the  'Cosmographiae'  was  prepared  for  the 
press  by  Boulengier,^*  who  in  his  day  achieved  distinction 
as  a  mathematician,  astronomer,  and  geographer,  this  gore 
map  has  been  ascribed  to  him.  It  appears  from  a  statement 
on  the  verso  of  a  folded  plate  belonging  to  Chapter  VIII 
that  a  globe  had  been  prepared  to  accompany  it.^^  This 
statement,  while  not  agreeing  in  all  respects  with  one  to  be 
found  in  the  edition  of  1507,  is  of  similar  import.  Boulengier 
states  in  his  dedicatory  letter  that  he  had  noted  other  globes 
which  had  been  previously  published.  As  a  bit  of  copper 
engraving  it  is  very  artistically  done;  its  inscriptions,  coast 
outlines,  and  rivers  are  drawn  in  soft  ornamental  lines. 
That  region  representing  North  America  bears  simply  the 
name  "Nova,"  while  South  America  is  referred  to  as  "Amer- 
ica noviter  reperta,"  a  wording  for  this  information  which 
elsewhere  appears  only  on  the  Jagellonicus  globe.  These 
gores  are  of  sufBcient  dimensions  to  cover  a  ball  1 1  cm.  in 
diameter. 

In  the  year  1877  or  1878,  reports  Professor  Ferdinando 
Jacoli,  Admiral  William  Acton  acquired  two  interesting  and 
scientifically  valuable  terrestrial  globes  of  the  early  six- 
teenth century  once  belonging  to  Count  Piloni  of  Belluno, 

[  79  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

Italy.'*'  That  one  appearing  to  be  the  older  of  the  two  re- 
sembles so  closely  the   Paris  green  globe  in  size,   having 
a  diameter  of  24  cm.,  and  in  its  details,  that  there  is  good 
reason  for  thinking  it  to  be  the  work  of  the  same  author. 
Like  the  Paris  globe  it  is  neither  signed  nor  dated.  The 
surface  of  the  ball  is  covered  with  a  preparation  of  plaster 
on  which  the  geographical  details  have  been  written.  Seas 
and  lands  are  colored,   the  equator,   the  tropics,   and  the 
polar  circles  are  indicated  by  gilded  lines.  Meridians  are 
drawn  at  intervals  of  ten  degrees,  the  prime  meridian  pass- 
ing through  the  Canary  Islands,  and  parallels  are  likewise 
represented  at  intervals  of  ten  degrees.  The  metal  meridian 
circle  and  the  stand  upon  which  the  sphere  rests  retain  in 
places  some  of  the  old  gilding.  Professor  Jacoli  expresses 
the  opinion  that  it  may  be  of  Spanish  or  of  Portuguese 
origin,  an  opinion  based  upon  the  nomenclature.  It  seems, 
however,  probable  that  the  author  was  an  Italian  and  that 
he  merely  employed  the  Spanish  or  the  Portuguese  sources, 
as  was  so  frequent,  and  in  so  large  a  measure  necessary,  in 
that  day.  In  Africa  the  author  has  represented  the  "Peludes 
nili,"  and  two  lakes  into  which  several  rivers  flow  having 
their  source  in  the  Mountains  of  the  Moon.  To  the  south- 
east of  the  continent  is  represented  "Zanzibar  insula,"  and 
near  this  are  a  number  of  small  islands  with  the  legend 
"Iste  insule  ex  mandato  regis  Portugalliae  lustrate  sunt." 
The  islands  of  Ceylon  and  Sumatra  are  laid  down  but  are 
given  the  names  "Taprobana"  and   "Seula"   respectively. 
In  the  interior  of  Asia  we  read  "Carama  civitas  magna," 
near  this  "Thebet  provincia  mais,"  and  below  "Hie  dnat 
prespiter  Johannes  rex  totius  Indiae."  In  eastern  Asia  is 
the  name  "Catay"  and  near  this  the  legend  "Zumsay  est 
queda  civitas  mag.  in  medio  lacus  magnus,"  the  Paris  globe 
having  "Quinsay"  instead  of  "Zumsay."  The  New  World 
in  its  outlines  bears  striking  resemblance  to  the  early  globes 
of  Schoner.  Along  the  west  coast  of  South  America  is  the 
legend  "Tota  ista  provincia  inventa  est  per  mandatum  regis 

[  80  ] 


GO 


bJD 

o 


o 

o 

o 

5 


H 
d 

bJD 


Globes  of  the  Early  Sixteenth  Century. 

Castelle,"  near  the  same  "Terra  ultra  incognita,"  and  ex- 
tending along  the  west  coast  of  North  America  "Terra 
ulterius  incognita,"  all  of  which  legends,  in  identical  word- 
ing, appear  on  the  Paris  globe.  The  Antilles  are  referred  to 
in  the  legend  "iste  insule  per  Columbum  Genuensem  Almi- 
rantem  ex  mandato  regis  Castelle  perite  sunt,"  and  in  South 
America  "America  ab  inventore  nuncupata."  Near  the  west 
coast  of  Africa  we  find  "Insule  portugalensium  invente — 
domini  1477,"  one  of  which  is  called  "visionis  insula." 
The  author  has  also  represented  an  Antarctic  continent  but 
has  made  no  reference  to  it  by  specific  name  or  legend.  If 
the  Paris  globe  was  constructed  before  1520,  as  Marcel 
concluded,  there  is  likewise  good  reason  why  the  Acton 
globe  should  also  be  assigned  to  the  second  decade  of  the 
sixteenth  century. 

Las  Casas,  in  his  'Historia  de  las  Indias,'  tells  us  that 
when  Magellan  (Fig.  41)  offered  his  services  to  the  King  of 
Spain  for  an  expedition  to  the  Moluccas  he  had  a  globe  to 
serve  him  in  the  demonstration  of  his  plan.  "Traia  el  Magal- 
lanes  vn  Globo  bien  pintado,  en  que  toda  la  tierra  estaba,  y 
alii  seilalo  el  camino  que  habia  de  llevar,  salvo  que  el  estra- 
cho  dejo,  de  industria,  en  bianco,  porque  alguno  no  se  lo 
saltease.""  "Magellan  had  a  well  painted  globe,  which 
exhibited  the  entire  earth,  and  he  showed  thereby  the  route 
which  he  thought  of  taking,  but  with  intention  he  had  left 
the  strait  blank  so  that  no  one  might  learn  his  secret." 

Other  allusions  to  this  globe  we  do  not  have,  unless  there 
is  such  in  a  letter  written  by  Sebastian  Alvares  to  King 
Don  Manuel,  dated  Seville,  July  18,  1519.  In  giving  in- 
f onnation  concerning  the  plan  of  Magellan  Alvares  states : 
"A  rrota  que  se  diz  que  han  de  levar  he  dir*°  ao  cabo  fryo 
ficando  Ihe  o  brasy  a  mao  dir*^  ate  pasar  a  linha  da  particao  e 
daly  navegar  ao  eloeste  e  loes  noroeste  dir*^^  a  maluco  a  quail 
trra  de  maluco  en  vy  asentada  na  poma  e  carta  que  ea  fez 
o  f''  de  Reynell  a  quail  no  era  acabada  quando  caa  seu  pay 
veo  por  ele,  e  seu  pay  acabou  tudo  e  pos  estas  trras  de  maluco 

[  81  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

e  p  este  paderam  se  fazem  todallas  cartas  as  quaees  faz  di° 
Ribeiro  e  faz  as  agulhas  quadrantes  e  esperas,  porem  no  vay 
narmada  nem  qr  mais  q  ganhar  de  comeer  p  seu  engenho." 
"The  course  which  it  is  said  they  are  to  take  is  straight  to 
Cape  Frio,  Brazil  remaining  on  their  right  hand  until  they 
reach  the  line  of  demarcation,  thence  they  are  to  navigate  to 
the  west  and  west-northwest  straight  to  Moluco,  which  land 
of  Moluco  I  have  seen  laid  down  on  the  sphere  and  map 
which  the  son  of  Reynell  made  here  which  was  not  complete 
when  his  father  came  here  for  him ;  and  his  father  finished  it 
all,  and  placed  these  islands  of  Moluco;  and  after  this  pat- 
tern all  the  maps  are  made  which  Diego  Ribeiro  makes,  and 
he  makes  the  compasses,  quadrants  and  globes,  but  he  does 
not  go  in  the  fleet,  nor  does  he  wish  to  do  more  than  gain 
his  living  by  his  skill.'"' 

We  find  reference  to  a  globe  of  this  early  period  as  be- 
longing to  Juan  Sebastian  del  Cano,  the  reference  thereto 
being  contained  in  his  will  made  on  board  the  Victoria, 
June  26,  1526,  and  reading  "Una  esfera  poma  del  mondo."^^ 
It  probably  was  made  of  wood  and  painted,  as  there  is  good 
reason  for  believing  that  such  as  were  carried  by  early  navi- 
gators on  their  vessels  were  of  this  character.  Harrisse  thinks 
"this  globe  would  probably  prove  to  be  one  of  the  most 
interesting  of  all  for  that  period,  exhibiting,  doubtless,  the 
hypothesis  of  Magellan  relative  to  the  configuration  of  the 
southwest  coast  of  South  America  north  of  50  degrees  south 
latitude."""  Although  the  will  of  Del  Cano  is  dated  1526 
there  is  reason  for  thinking  the  globe  was  constructed  prior 
to  1520. 

Among  the  globe  makers  of  the  early  sixteenth  century 
none  merits  greater  distinction  than  Johann  Schoner  of 
Niirnberg  (1477-1547)  (Fig.  42),  mathematician,  astron- 
omer, and  geographer."^  He  was  born  in  Carlstadt,  Fran- 
conia,  held  a  church  office  for  some  years  in  Bamberg,  and 
in  the  year  1526,  upon  the  advice  of  Melanchthon,  became 
a  professor  of  mathematics  in  the  gymnasium  of  Niirnberg, 

[  82  ] 


Fig.  41.  Portrait  of  Magellan. 


Globes  of  the  Early  Sixteenth  Century. 

to  the  fame  of  which  city,  as  a  scientific  center,  Regiomon- 
tanus  had  so  greatly  contributed  in  the  preceding  century. 
His  activities  as  a  globe  maker  began  as  early  as  the  second 
decade  of  the  century,  and  his  influence  soon  became  very 
pronounced.  In  Niimberg  he  labored  until  the  time  of  his 
death  in  the  year  1547,  editing,  in  addition  to  his  other 
activities,  the  literary  and  scientific  works  of  Regiomon- 
tanus  and  of  Werner,  and  each  year  until  1543  issued  his 
so-called  Calendars.  His  numerous  publications,  mathemati- 
cal, astronomical,  and  cosmographical,  alone  entitle  him  to 
a  place  of  first  importance  among  German  scientific  leaders 
of  his  day. 

It  was  as  early  as  1515,  at  the  cost  of  a  wealthy  patron, 
Johann  Seylor,  that  he  made  in  Bamberg  what  has  usually 
been  accepted  as  his  first  globe,  two  copies  of  which  are  now 
known,  and  for  which  it  has  been  thought  he  wrote  his 
tract  bearing  title  'Luculentissima  quaeda  terrae  totius  de- 
scriptio  .  .  .  cum  privilegio  Invictis  Romanoru  Impera 
Maximiliani  per  acto  annos:  ne  quis  imprimat:  aut  im- 
primere  procuret  codices  has:  cum  globis  cosmographicis : 
Noribergae  1515.'  'A  most  luminous  description  of  the 
whole  earth  .  .  .  with  the  privilege  of  the  Invincible  Em- 
peror of  the  Romans,  Maximilian,  for  eight  years  to  the 
effect  that  nobody  shall  print  or  have  any  of  these  books 
printed,  with  the  cosmographic  globe. '^^  On  the  leaf  pre- 
ceding "fol.  1"  is  the  representation  of  a  mounted  globe. 

One  of  Schoner's  globes  of  1515  is  to  be  found  in  the 
Grand  Ducal  Library  of  Weimar,  and  one  in  the  City 
Museum  of  Frankfurt  (Fig.  43).  Wieser,^^  after  a  careful 
comparison,  finds  these  globes  to  be  practically  alike  in  all 
details.  Each  is  27  cm.  in  diameter,  having  the  usual  mount- 
ings of  brass,  the  whole  resting  on  a  wooden  base.  While 
neither  signed  nor  dated,  they  answer  the  description  con- 
tained in  Schoner's  little  tract  referred  to  above.  That  region 
on  the  globe  which  we  may  designate  North  America,  he 
calls  "Farias" ;  the  South  American  continent  bears  the  name 

[  83  ] 


Fig.  43.  Globe  of  Johann  Schoner  in  Hemispheres,  1515. 


^oHnSriya  an  iff? 

!l!,lllililllllllllLi!llli 


1 

erivr 


.  y  ^  .^  I  «/4i«k  i#  «4iiik««i«niM:i^«Vifti#M«ii«  ip»«^«»«»wti^ 


Fig.  42.  Portrait  of  Johann  Schoner. 


Globes  of  the  Early  Sixteenth  Century. 

"America"  and  the  austral  land  the  name  "BrasiUe  regio." 
In  addition  to  these  principal  regions  he  has  represented 
the  land  discovered  by  the  Cortereals,  designating  the  same 
as  "Litus  incognitum."  Cuba  bears  the  name  "Isabella"  and 
Haiti  the  name  "Spagnolla."  The  feature  which  seems  to 
give  special  interest  to  these  globes  of  Schoner  is  the  repre- 
sentation of  a  strait  between  "America"  and  "Brasilie 
regio."  To  the  significance  of  this  particular  representation 
Wieser  has  given  very  careful  consideration.  He  cites 
numerous  passages  from  the  tract  of  Schoner,  and  from  the 
'Copia  der  newen  Zeitung  aus  Presillig  Landt,'"  a  publi- 
cation which  he  finds  good  reason  for  believing  appeared 
before  1515,  and  in  which  he  finds  an  acceptable  explana- 
tion of  the  origin  of  this  geographical  notion  represented 
by  Schoner,  which  antedates  the  Magellan  expedition  by  a 
period  of  five  years. 

It  is  a  point  to  be  especially  noted  that  the  dominant 
cosmographical  idea  of  the  map  makers  of  the  first  quarter 
of  the  century  represented  the  New  World  regions  as  inde- 
pendent of  Asia.  It  is  the  idea  set  forth  in  the  Portuguese 
maps,  such  as  the  Cantino  and  the  Canerio;  it  is  the  idea 
which  we  find  represented  in  the  Waldseemiiller  maps  and 
practically  in  all  the  Lusitano-Germanic  maps  of  the  pe- 
riod.*°  Schoner  had  written  in  his  tract  of  1515,  "Hunc  in 
modum  terra  quadriparita  cognoscitur,  et  sunt  tres  primae 
partes  continentes,  id  est  terra  firma.  Sed  quarta  est  insula, 
quia  omniquoque  mari  circumdata  conspicitur."  "It  has  now 
been  ascertained  that  the  earth  is  divided  into  four  parts, 
and  the  first  three  parts  are  continents,  that  is,  main  lands, 
but  the  fourth  part  is  an  island  because  we  see  it  surrounded 
on  all  sides  by  the  sea."*^*'  With  regard  to  the  relation  of 
"Farias"  to  Asia,  he  states,  "Farias  insula  quae  non  est  pars 
vel  portio  prioris,  sed  specialis  magna  portio  terrae  huius 
quartae  partis  mundi."  "Farias  is  not  a  part  or  portion  of 
the  aforesaid  country,  but  a  large  independent  portion  of 
the  earth,  in  that  fourth  part  of  the  world."* 

[  85  ] 


)67 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

Of  the  globes  constructed  by  Schoner,  none  is  more  impor- 
tant than  that  bearing  date  1520  (Fig.  44).*'^  The  wooden 
ball  on  which  the  map  has  been  drawn  and  colored  by  hand 
has  a  diameter  of  about  87  cm.  and  rests  upon  a  wooden 
base.  Near  the  south  pole  is  the  date  1 520  in  large  gilt  let- 
ters and  an  inscription  stating  that  it  was  made  at  the  ex- 
pense of  Johannes  Seyler  by  Jo.  Schoner.®"  It  is  apparent 
that  the  same  sources  were  used  for  the  drafting  of  the  map 
on  this  globe  that  had  been  used  in  the  case  of  his  earlier 
globes,  but  the  geographical  infonnation  on  this  last  globe 
is  much  more  detailed.  The  New  World  appears  in  five 
distinct  parts,  the  first  of  which  is  called  "Terra  Corte- 
realis,"  the  second  "Terra  de  Cuba,"  the  third  "Insulae 
Canibalorum  sine  Antiglia,"  the  fourth  "Terra  nova,  Amer- 
ica vel  Brasilia  sive  Papagelli  Terra,"  and  the  fifth  "Bra- 
silia inferior."  The  globe  is  richly  decorated  in  colors,  and 
its  numerous  descriptive  legends,  most  of  them  in  Latin, 
give  such  geographical  information  as  may  be  found  in 
most  of  the  important  maps  of  this  early  period. '° 

In  1523  Schoner  issued  a  little  tract  of  four  pages  which 
he  called  'De  nuper  sub  Castiliae  ac  Portugaliae  Regibus 
Serenissimis  repertis  Insulis  ac  Regionibus,  Joannis  Schoner 
Charolipolitani  epistola  et  Globus  Geographicus,  seriem 
navigationum  annotantibus.  Clarissimo  atque  disertissimo 
viro  Dno  Rymero  de  Streytpergk,  ecclesiae  Babenbergensis 
Canonico  dictae.  Timiripae,  Anno  Incamat.  Dni.  1523.' 
'An  epistle  of  John  Schoner  of  Carlstadt  concerning  the 
islands  and  regions  recently  discovered  by  the  Most  Serene 
Kings  of  Castile  and  of  Portugal,  and  a  geographical  globe 
for  the  use  of  marking  the  course  of  those  navigations. 
Dedicated  to  the  most  distinguished  and  eloquent  Reymer 
von  Streytperg,  canon  of  the  Church  of  Bamberg.  Timiripae 
(Kirch-ehrenbach).  In  the  year  of  the  Lord's  incarnation 
1523.'^^  Though  Schoner  alone  gives  us  such  information 
as  we  possess  concerning  this  globe,  it  has  been  the  subject 
of  much  controversy,  and  if  recovered  it  doubtless  would 

[  86  ] 


Fig.  44.  Western  Hemisphere  of  Johann  Schoner's  Globe,  1520. 


Globes  of  the  Early  Sixteenth  Century. 

prove  to  be  an  object  of  much  interest.  There  is,  in  the 
opinion  of  the  author,  scarcely  the  slightest  ground  for 
accepting  the  conclusions  of  Henry  Stevens  and  Professor 
V.  Wieser,  that  the  globe  gores,  now  in  the  possession  of 
the  New  York  Public  Library  (Fig.  44^),  and  described  by 
them  as  the  lost  globe  of  Schoner  of  1 523,  are  of  Schonerian 
origin.  The  critical  studies  of  Harrisse  are  sufficiently  con- 
vincing to  set  this  question  at  rest.^^  Schoner  concludes  his 
little  tract  in  the  following  words:  "Ego  tam  mirifice  orbis 
pervagationi  nonnihil  volens  adiicere,  ut  quae  lectu  videan- 
tur  mirabilia,  aspectu  credantur  prohabiliora,  Globum  hunc 
in  orbis  modum  effingere  studui,  exemplar  baud  fallibile 
aemulatus,  quod  Hispaniarum  solertia  cuidam  viro  honore 
conspicuo  transmisit.  Nee  ob  id  quem  antea  glomeraveram 
abolitum  iri  volens,  quippe  qui  es  tempore,  quantum  phas 
erat  homini  abdita  mundi  penetrare,  abunde  expressit,  modo 
sese  consona  admissione  patientur,  quod  invenienda  inventis 
non  obstent.  Accipe  igitur  hunc  a  me  formatum  globum  ea 
animi  benignitate,  qua  eum  laborem  ad  tui  nominis  honorem 
lubens  aggressus  sum.  Cognoscam  profecto  meas  lucubra- 
tiunculas  tuae  celsitudini  nullatenus  despectui  fore.  Vale." 
"Being  desirous  of  making  some  small  addition  to  this 
wonderful  survey  of  the  earth,  so  that  what  appears  very 
extraordinary  to  the  reader  may  appear  more  likely,  when 
thus  illustrated,  I  have  been  at  the  pains  to  construct  this 
globe,  having  copied  a  very  accurate  one  which  an  ingenious 
Spaniard  has  sent  to  a  person  of  distinction.  I  do  not  how- 
ever wish  to  set  aside  the  globe  I  constructed  some  time  since, 
as  it  fully  showed  all  that  had,  at  that  time,  been  discov- 
ered: so  that  the  former,  as  far  as  it  goes,  agrees  with  the 
latter.  Please  then  to  accept  this  globe  in  the  same  friendly 
spirit  in  which  I  undertook  to  construct  it  for  your  gratifica- 
tion. But  I  am  sure  you  will  not  despise  my  humble  attempt. 
Farewell."''^  This  statement  assures  us  that  he  had  con- 
structed a  globe  at  the  time  of  issuing  his  tract,  and  it  gives 
us  a  fairly  definite  idea  of  its  New  World  configurations, 

[  87  1 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globesv 

and  further,  that  in  the  main  it  agreed  with  his  earlier 
globes.  It  seems  probable,  however,  that  in  some  manner 
he  indicated  an  Asiatic  connection  of  the  new  lands,  an  idea 
which  is  so  frequently  expressed  in  the  maps  of  the  next 
quarter  of  a  century,  especially  in  the  globe  maps,  an  idea 
not  to  be  finally  set  at  rest  until  the  discovery  of  Bering 
put  an  end  to  the  controversy. 

How  Schoner,  and  others,  came  to  the  conclusion  that 
"Parias"  (North  America)  is  not  "a  large  independent  por- 
tion of  the  earth  in  that  fourth  part  of  the  world,"  but  has 
an  Asiatic  connection,  and  how  they  set  down  that  conclu- 
sion in  their  maps  will  receive  consideration  in  the  following 
chapter. 

Though  not  a  maker  of  globes,  in  so  far  as  we  have  defi- 
nite knowledge,  Albrecht  Diirer  turned  his  attention  to  the 
drafting  of  maps,  two  of  which  have  for  us  here  a  certain 
interest.  In  the  year  1515  Johannes  Stabius  designed  a  map 
of  the  Old  World  on  a  stereographic  projection  (Fig.  45), 
one  of  the  first  of  its  kind,  which  Diirer  is  said  to  have  en- 
graved. While  the  map  itself  is  of  little  importance  it  is 
of  interest  as  an  attempt  to  represent  in  perspective  a 
spherical  earth.^* 

Diirer  likewise  undertook  the  drafting  and  engraving  of 
a  celestial  map  (Fig.  46),  than  which  of  this  character  there 
appears  to  be  none  earlier  known.  It  was  not  so  drawn  as 
to  make  possible  its  application  to  the  surface  of  a  sphere, 
but  its  reshaping  for  that  purpose  could  not  have  been  for 
him  a  difficult  proposition.  He,  with  others  of  this  time, 
was  giving  thought  to  the  problem  of  globe-gore  con- 
struction. 


[  88  ] 


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Globes  of  the  Early  Sixteenth  Century. 

NOTES 

1.  The  illustrations  given  are  typical,  and  to  one  familiar  with  the  works 
of  the  period  on  geographical  and  astronomical  subjects,  others  suggest 
themselves. 

2.  For  popular  accounts  of  the  Este  family  of  Ferrara,  see  Gardner,  E.  G. 
Princes  and  Poets  of  Ferrara.  London,  1904;  Cartwright,  J.  Isabella  d'Este. 
London,  1903. 

3.  Harrisse.  Discovery,  pp.  422-425 ;  same  author,  Les  Corte-Real  et  leur 
voyages  au  Nouveau  Monde.  Paris,  1883,  with  reproduction  of  the  western 
half  of  the  map,  in  colors ;  Stevenson,  E.  L.  Maps  illustrating  early  dis- 
covery and  exploration  in  America.  New  Brunswick,  1906.  No.  i  of  this 
series  is  a  reproduction  of  the  Cantino  map  in  the  size  of  the  original. 

4.  Fischer,  J.  The  Discoveries  of  the  Norsemen  in  America.  London,  1903. 
pp.  112-118.  Professor  Fischer  enjoys  the  distinction  of  being  the  foremost 
living  authority  on  Ptolemy. 

5.  D'Arco,  C.  Delle  arti  e  degli  artefici  di  Mantova.  Mantova,  1857.  Vol. 

n.  p-  53- 

6.  Bertolotti,  A.  Artisti  in  relazione  coi  Gonzaga  Signori  di  Mantova. 
Modena,  1885.  p.  143.  (In:  Estr.  dagli  Atti  e  Memorie  delle  Deputazioni 
di  storia  patria  per  le  Provincie  Modenesi  e  Parmensi.  Serie  III,  Vol.  Ill, 
parte  1.) 

7.  Harrisse.  Discovery,  p  434. 

8.  Denza,  F.  Globi  celesti  della  Specola  Vaticana.  (In :  Publicazioni 
della  Specola  Vaticana.  Torino,  1894.  Vol.  IV,  p.  xvii.) 

9.  Fiorini,  op.  cit.,  pp.  88-89. 

10.  See  the  edition  of  Ptolemy.  Geographia — MDVIII.  Rome.  Chap.  xii. 
u.  Fiorini,  op.  cit.,  pp.  94-96,  the  citation  being  made  from  Badia,  Jodoco 

del.  La  bottega  di  Alessandro  di  Francesco  Rosselli  merciaje  e  stampatore 
(1525).  (In:  Miscellanea  fiorentina  di  erudizione  e  storia.  Luglio,  1894. 
Vol.  n,  p.  14.) 

12.  Zach,  F.  V.  Monatliche  Korrespondence.  Gotha,  1806.  Vol.  XIII,  p. 
157.  Harrisse.  Discovery,  pp.  445-446. 

13.  Fiorini,  op.  cit.,  p.  99. 

14.  Fiorini,  op.  cit.,  p.  101. 

15.  Fiorini,  op.  cit.,  p.  72. 

16.  Fiorini,  op.  cit.,  p.  102.  Of  the  further  interest  taken  by  Cardinal 
Salviati  in  geography,  see  Stevenson,  op.  cit..  No.  7. 

17.  Trithemius.  Epistolae  familiares.  Haganoae,   1536.  p.  294. 

18.  This  is  part  of  the  letter  of  August  12. 

19.  D'Avezac,  M.  A.  P.  Martin  Hylacomylus  Walzemiiller  ses  ouvrages 
et  ses  collaborateurs.  Paris,  1867;  Gallois.  Les  Geographes.  Chap.  iv. 
"L'ecole  Alsacienne-Lorraine" ;  Schmidt,  C.  Histoire  litteraire  de  I'Alsace  a 
la  fin  du  XV^  et  au  commencement  du  XVI^  siecle.  Paris,  1879. 

20.  Schmidt,  op.  cit.,  Vol.  II,  p.  111;  Humboldt,  A.  v.  Kritische  Unter- 
suchungen.  Berlin,  1852.  Vol.  II,  p.  363 ;  Gallois,  L.  Le  Gymnase  Vosgien. 
(In:  Bulletin  de  la  Societe  de  Geographic  de  I'Est.  Paris,  1900.  pp.  88  if .)  j 
D'Avezac,  op.  cit.,  p.  11. 

21.  A  canon  of  the  cathedral  of  St.  Die.  Lud  gives  us  the  information 
that  he  was  the  translator  of  the  Vespucci  narrative  from  the  French  into 
the  Latin. 

[   89   ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

22.  Gravier,  N.  F.  Histoire  de  Saint-Die.  Epinal,  1836.  p.  202.  The  author 
refers  to  the  character  of  Lud  and  to  the  influence  of  the  St.  Die  press. 
Copies  of  Lud's  most  important  little  tract  may  be  found  in  the  British 
Museum,  and  in  the  Imperial  Library  of  Vienna ;  it  was  printed  in  the  St. 
Die  in  the  year   1507. 

23.  The  full  title  of  this  significant  volume  reads :  'Cosmographiae  Intro- 
ductio  cum  quibusdam  geometriae  ac  astronomiae  principiis  ad  earn  rem 
necessariis,  insuper  quatuor  Americi  Vespucci  navigationes.  Universalis  Cos- 
mographie  descriptio  tam  in  solido  q3  piano  eis  etiam  insertis  que  Ptholomeo 
ignota  a  nuperis  reperta  sunt.'  'Introduction  to  Cosmography  with  certain 
necessary  principles  of  geometry  and  astronomy  to  which  are  added  the 
Four  Voyages  of  Amerigo  Vespucci  a  representation  of  the  entire  world, 
both  in  the  solid  (globe  ?)  and  projected  on  the  plane,  including  also  lands 
which  were  unknown  to  Ptolemy,  and  have  been  recently  discovered.'  Two 
editions  of  the  work  appeared  in  1507,  and  others  at  later  dates.  An  excel- 
lent reproduction  of  Waldseemiiller's  book  in  facsimile,  with  English  trans- 
lation, was  published  by  the  United  States  Catholic  Historical  Society  under 
the  title,  'The  Cosmographiae  Introductio  of  Martin  Waldseemiiller  in 
Facsimile  followed  by  the  Four  Voyages  of  Amerigo  Ve.spucci  with  their 
Translation  into  English.'  Ed.  by  C.  G.  Herbermann.  New  York,   1907. 

24.  This  is  one  of  the  best  of  the  early  printed  editions  of  Ptolemy. 

25.  May  it  not  have  been  the  Canerio  chart  to  which  allusion  was  made 
by  Lud,  or  a  chart  of  exactly  that  type  %  See  Stevenson,  E.  L.  Marine  World 
Chart  of  Nicolo  de  Canerio  Januensis  (ca.)  1502.  With  Facsimile  of  the 
unique  original,  measuring  1 15  x  225  cm.  New  York,  1908. 

26.  Stevenson,  E.  L.  Martin  Waldseemiiller  and  the  early  Lusitano-Ger- 
manic  Cartography  of  the  New  World.  New  York,  1904.  (In :  Bulletin  of 
the  American  Geographical  Society.  New  York,  1908.  pp.   193-215.) 

27.  Schmidt,  C.  (In:  Memoires  de  la  Societe  d'Archeologie  lorraine. 
Nancy,  1875.  p.  227.) 

28.  Fischer,  J.  and  Wieser,  F.  R.  v.  The  oldest  map  with  the  name 
America  of  the  year  1507  and  the  Carta  Marina  of  the  year  1516  by  M. 
Waldseemiiller  (Ilacomilus).  Innsbruck,  1903.  Text  in  German  and  Eng- 
lish, the  maps  in  facsimile.  The  authors  in  their  text  have  considered  such 
matters  as  the  Wolfegg  collective  volume,  a  description  of  the  two  maps, 
the  sources  of  WaldseemuUer,  and  the  influence  of  the  maps  on  the  subse- 
quent cartography,  especially  of  the  New  World. 

29.  Printed  on  fol.  "Aii." 

30.  Printed  on  the  back  of  folded  leaf  at  the  beginning  of  "Caput  IX." 

31.  Gallois.  Les  geographes.  p.  48;  Fischer  and  v.  Wieser,  op.  cit.,  p.  14. 

32.  The  crude  character  of  the  map  is  in  striking  contrast  with  the  world 
map  of  1507. 

33.  This  is  an  excellent  reproduction  of  the  gores,  copy  of  which  was 
courteously  sent  the  author  by  Prince  Liechtenstein. 

34.  Printed  in  the  lower  corner  of  the  chart  on  the  left,  "Generalem 
igitur  totius  orbis  typum,  quem  ante  annos  aucos  absolutum  non  sine  grandi 
labore  ex  Ptolomei  traditione  ...  in  lucem  edideramus  et  in  mille  exem- 
plaria  exprimi  curavimus  ..." 

35.  Harrisse.  B.  A.  V.  No.  62. 

36.  Harrisse.  Discovery,  p.  465. 

37.  Harrisse.  B.  A.  V.  No.  61. 

[   90   ] 


Globes  of  the  Early  Sixteenth  Century. 

38.  Harrisse.  B.  A.  V.  No.  32,  Ad. 

39.  Harrisse.  Discovery,  p.  466. 

40.  De  Costa,  B.  F.  The  Lenox  Globe.  (In :  Magazine  of  American  His- 
tory. New  York,  1879.  PP-  529-540.)  De  Costa  had  the  globe  map  redrawn 
and  printed  in  plane  projection.  See  for  reproduction,  Winsor,  Norden- 
skiold.  Encyclopaedia  Britannica.  An  excellent  reproduction  from  a  direct 
photograph  of  the  globe  may  be  found  in  Stevenson,  E.  L.  Typical  early 
maps  of  the  New  World.  (In :  Bulletin  of  the  American  Geographical 
Society.  New  York,  1907.  pp.  202-224.) 

41.  Estreicher,  T.  Ein  Erdglobus  aus  dem  Anfange  des  XVI  Jh.  in  der 
Jagellonischen  Bibliothek.  (In:  Bulletin  International  de  I'Academie  des 
Sciences  de  Cracovie.  Cracovie,  1900.  pp.  96-105.) 

The  construction  of  the  clockwork  to  be  found  in  this  small  copper  sphere 
in  La  Nature,  1892.  No.  996,  p.  75.  The  globe  is  referred  to  by  Stevenson, 
E.  L.,  in  Martin  Waldseemiiller  and  the  Lusitano-Germanic  Cartography  of 
the  New  World.  (In:  Bulletin  of  the  American  Geographical  Society.  New 
York,  1904.  pp.  193-215.) 

42.  Waldseemiiller,  op.  cit.,  Caput  vii. 

43.  Luksch,  M.  J.  Zwei  Denkmale  alter  Kartographie.  Wien,  1886.  (In: 
Mitteilung  der  k.  k.  Geog.  Gesellschaft.  Wien,  1886.  pp.  364-373.)  ;  Varn- 
hagen,  F.  A.  Jo.  Schoner  e  F.  Apianus.  Wien,  1872.  On  p.  52  the  opinion 
is  expressed  that  the  globe  was  made  in  Brixen  from  the  fact  that  this 
relatively  unimportant  town  is  inscribed.  Harrisse.  Discovery,  pp.  491,  492; 
Nordenskiold.  Facsimile  Atlas,  p.  76. 

44.  Marcel,  G.  Un  globe  manuscrit  de  I'ecole  de  Schoner.  Paris,  1889. 
(In:  Bulletin  de  geographie  historique  et  descriptive.  Paris,  1889.  p.  173.); 
same  author,  Reproduction  de  carte  et  de  globes  relatif  a  la  decouverte  de 
I'Amerique.  Paris,  1894.  pp.  11-14. 

45.  Harrisse.  Discovery,  p.  490. 

46.  Nordenskiold.  Facsimile  Atlas,  p.  76 ;  reproduced  on  pi.  XXXVII ; 
same  author,  Om  en  marklig  globakarta  fran  borjan  af  sextonde  seklet. 
Stockholm,  1884.  The  latter  has  been  translated  under  the  title,  A  remarkable 
globe  map  of  the  sixteenth  century,  with  facsimile,  by  E.  A.  Elfwing,  and 
published  in  Journal  of  the  American  Geographical  Society.  New  York, 
1884. 

47.  Here  the  name  "America"  is  more  clearly  assigned  to  the  entire  con- 
tinent than  in  the  Waldseemiiller  map. 

48.  See  below,  p.  176. 

49.  Major,  R.  H.  Memoir  on  a  mappemonde  by  Leonardo  da  Vinci,  being 
the  earliest  map  hitherto  known  containing  the  name  America:  now  in  the 
Royal  Collection  at  Windsor.  London,  1865;  Wieser.  Magalhaes-Strasse. 
pi.  Ill,  a  reproduction  of  the  gores  showing  the  New  World,  joined  in 
a  hemisphere ;  d'Adda,  Marquis  Girolamo.  Leonardo  da  Vinci  e  la  Cos- 
mografia.  (In:  La  Perzeveranza.  Milano,  1870.)  ;  Richter,  J.  P.  Literary 
Works  of  Da  Vinci.  London,  1883.  Both  d'Adda  and  Richter  doubt  the  Da 
Vinci  origin  of  these  gores. 

50.  Harrisse,  op.  cit.,  p.  504. 

51.  See  above,  p.  67. 

52.  Nordenskiold,  op.  cit.,  p.  76 ;  reproduced  on  pi.  XXXVIII ;  Cata- 
logue de  livres  appartenant  a  M.  H.  Tross.  Paris,  1881,  item  4924,  with  a 
reproduction  of  the  gores. 

[   91    ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

53.  Harrisse,  op.  cit.,  pp.  494-496. 

54.  Marcel,  G.  Louis  Boulengier  d'Alby.  Paris,  1890.  (In:  Bulletin  de 
geographic  historique  et  descriptive.  Paris,  1890.) 

55.  This  statement  reads :  "Habes  candide  lector  tabellam  preinsculptam 
tibi  latitudinem  graduum  regionium  ...  In  globe  vero  diei  quantitatem 
et  noctis  ...  sic  comprehendere  potes  omni  de  regione  tarn  per  globum 
quam  per  sexagenarlum."  "You  have,  dear  Reader,  before  you,  a  small 
plate  on  which  are  inscribed  the  degrees  of  latitude  of  the  countries  .  .  . 
on  the  globe  (you  see)  the  duration  of  the  day  and  night  .  .  .  thereby  you 
will  be  able  to  ascertain  (the  position  of)  every  country  by  the  globe  as 
well  as  by  the  sexennium." 

56.  Tessier,  A.  Di  Cesare  Vecellio  e  de'  suoi  dipinti  e  disegni  in  una  Col- 
lezione  di  libri  dei  secoli  XV  e  XVI.  Rome,  1876.  (In:  Bollettino  della 
Societe  geografica  italiana.  Rome,  1876.  Serie  II,  Vol.  I,  pp.  39-42.) 

Tessier's  discourse  was  delivered  at  the  Venetian  Atheneum,  1875.  Jacoli, 
F.,  likewise  refers  to  this  globe  in  Gazzetta  di  Venezia,  January  15,  1876. 
It  is  not  known  just  what  disposition  has  been  made  of  the  globes  by 
Admiral  Acton. 

57.  Las  Casas.  Historia.  Tomo  IV,  lib.  Ill,  cap.  ci,  p.  377  ;  Herrera,  A. 
Descriptione  las  Indias  Ocidentales.  Madrid,  1730.  Tomo  II,  lib.  II,  cap. 
xix,  p.  52. 

58.  The  first  voyage  around  the  world  by  Magellan.  Tr.  by  Stanley  of 
Alderley,  Lord.  London,  1874.  (In:  Hakluyt  Society  Publications.  London, 
1874.  Vol.  52,  p.  xliv.)  ;  Pigafetta,  Antonio.  Magellan's  Voyage  around  the 
world.  The  original  text  of  the  Ambrosian  MS.,  with  English  translation, 
notes,  bibliography,  and  index.  Ed.  by  Robertson,  J.  A.  Cleveland,  1906. 

59.  Documentos  ineditos  per  la  Historia  de  Espana.  Madrid,  1847.  Vol.  I, 
p.  265. 

60.  Harrisse,  op.  cit.,  p.  544. 

61.  Doppelmayr.  Nachrichten.  pp.  45-50;  Varnhagen,  F.  A.  de.  Jo.  Schoner 
c  P.  Apianus  (Benewitz)  influencia  de  urn  e  outro  e  de  varios  de  seus  con- 
temporaneos  na  adopqao  do  nome  America.  Vienna,  1872 ;  Stevens,  H. 
Johann  Schoner,  professor  of  Mathematics  at  Nuremberg ;  a  reproduction  of 
his  globe  of  1523  long  lost;  his  dedicatory  letter  to  Reymer  von  Streyt- 
perck  and  the  'De  Moluccis'  of  Maximilianus  Transylvanus,  with  a  new 
translation  and  notes  of  the  globe.  Ed.  with  an  introduction  and  bibliog- 
raphy by  Coote,  C.  H.  London,  1888.  pp.  xxxix-xliv  contains  a  short 
biography  of  Schoner ;  Algemeine  Deutsche  Biographic,  "Schoner." 

62.  Harrisse.  B.  A.  V.  No.  80.  The  full  title  with  bibliographical  refer- 
ences are  here  given.  In  addition  to  the  mere  title  we  read  "Cum  Globis 
cosmographicis :  sub  mulcta  quinquaginta  florenorum  Rhen.  et  amissione 
omnium  exemplarium."  "With  a  cosmographical  globe :  under  a  fine  of  five 
hundred  Rhenish  florins  and  forfeiting  all  copies." 

63.  Wieser.  Magalhaes-Strasse.  See  especially  chap,  iii,  "Der  Globus 
Schoners  vom  J.  1515,"  and  reproduction,  pi.  II;  Reproduction  in  Jomard, 
Nos.  15-16. 

64.  Harrisse.  B.  A.  V.  p.  xlix,  note  156;  also  Nos.  99,  100. 

65.  Stevenson.  Martin  Waldseemiiller  and  the  early  Lusitano-Germanic 
Cartography. 

66.  Schoner.  Luculentissima.  fol.  60. 

67.  Schoner.  Luculentissima.  verso  of  fol.  60. 

[    92    ] 


Globes  of  the  Early  Sixteenth  Century. 

68.  Wieser,  op.  cit. ;  Ghillany.  Geschichte  des  Seefahrers  Ritter  Martin 
Behaim.  pp.  8-12.  Ghillany  reproduces  the  western  hemisphere  of  the  globe 
in  the  original  colors;  Kohl,  J.  G.  History  of  the  Discovery  of  Maine.  (In: 
Documentary  history  of  the  State  of  Maine.  Portland,  1869.)  Vol.  I,  pp. 
158-163.  This  contains  a  much  reduced  reproduction  of  Ghillany's  facsimile 
of  the  western  hemisphere;  Nordenskiold,  op.  cit.,  p.  80;  Santarem.  Atlas, 
pi.  52  (H.  S.  A.  copy)  ;  Lelewel.  Geographie  du  moyen  age.  pi.  46. 

69.  The  inscription  reads  as  given  by  Ghillany. 

70.  Practically  all  of  the  works  cited  relating  to  Schoner  treat  more  or 
less  fully  of  the  geographical  features  of  Schoner's  globes.  Wieser's  work  is 
particularly  valuable. 

71.  Stevens,  op.  cit.,  gives  this  letter  in  facsimile  with  translation;  Wieser, 
op.  cit.,  pp.  118-122,  reprints  the  Latin  of  this  letter. 

72.  Harrisse,  op.  cit.,  pp.  519-528. 

73.  Wieser,  op.  cit.,  p.  121. 

74.  Oberhummer,  E.  Leonardo  da  Vinci  and  the  art  of  the  renaissance  in 
its  relation  to  geography.  (In:  The  Geographical  Journal.  London,  1909. 
See  pp.  561-569  on  Albrecht  Diirer.) 


[  93  ] 


Chapter  VII 

Globes  of  the  Second  Quarter  of  the 
Sixteenth  Century- 
Globes  indicating  (a)   an  Asiatic  connection  of  the  New  World, 

(b)  globes  expressing  a  doubt  of  such  Old  World  connection, 

(c)  globes  showing  an  independent  position  of  the  New 
\Vorld. — Franciscus  Monachus. — Hakluyt's  reference. — The  Gilt 
globe. — Parmentier. — Francesco  Libri. — Nancy  globe. — Globes 
of  Gemma  Frisius. — Robertus  de  Bailly. — Schoner  globe 
of  1533. — Scheipp. — Furtembach. — Paris  Wooden  globe. — Vopel 
globes. — Santa  Cruz. — Hartmann  gores. — Important  globe  of 
Ulpius. — Cardinal  Bembo's  globes. — Mercator's  epoch-making 
activity. — Fracastro. — Ramusio's  references  to  globes. — Gia- 
nelli. — Florence  celestial  globe. 

j4  S  in  the  first  quarter  of  the  sixteenth  century,  so  in 
/%  the  second  we  find  engraved  brass  and  copper 
A  m  globes,  globes  with  manuscript  maps,  and  those 
with  printed  or  engraved  gore  maps.  Since  the  latter  in  this 
period  have  especially  found  favor,  attention  is  more  and 
more  directed  toward  the  shaping  of  the  segments  or  gores 
with  that  mathematical  nicety  which,  as  previously  stated, 
would  admit  of  a  perfect  or  almost  perfect  adjustment 
when  they  were  applied  to  the  surface  of  a  prepared  ball. 

To  the  independent  position  of  the  New  World  as  repre- 
sented on  the  globe  maps  prior  to  1525  attention  has  been 
called  in  the  preceding  chapter,  but  the  idea  of  such  inde- 
pendence, it  may  here  be  noted,  is  one  contrary  to  that  very 
generally  though  erroneously  entertained  by  historians  who 
have  written  of  the  period,  an  error  doubtless  in  large  meas- 

[  94  ] 


Second  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

ure  due  to  a  failure  on  their  part  to  give  proper  heed  to 
the  record  of  the  maps  as  expressing  the  geographical 
notions  commonly  accepted.  Harrisse  has  well  stated  the 
case  in  referring  to  the  geographical  opinions  of  the  earliest 
explorers,  observing  that  the  moment  search  began  for  a 
waterway  leading  from  Oceanus  Occidentalis  to  Oceanus 
Oriental  is,  that  moment  opinion  began  to  become  conviction 
that  a  new  continental  region  had  been  found,  that  a  New 


3 


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Fig.  47.  Bartholomew  Columbus  Sketch  Map,  1506. 


World  had  been  discovered,^  and  practically  all  of  the  early 
explorers  had  hope  of  finding  such  a  waterway.  It  is  very 
true  that  more  than  two  hundred  years  passed  from  Colum- 
bus' day  before  there  was  positive  proof  of  an  independence 
of  the  newly  found  land,  but  the  earliest  map  makers  out- 
lined it  as  if  believing  in  its  independence  of  an  Old  World 
or  Asiatic  connection."  The  so-called  Bartholomew  Colum- 
bus sketch  maps,^  probably  drawn  in  the  first  decade  of  the 
sixteenth  century  (Fig.  47),  alone  can  be  cited,  among  the 
maps  of  any  particular  importance  in  the  first  quarter  of 

[  95  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

this  century,  as  distinctly  indicating  a  belief  in  an  Asiatic 
connection.  Attention  was  likewise  called  in  the  preceding 
chapter  to  the  fact  that  toward  the'  close  of  the  century's 
first  quarter  the  idea  that  a  veritably  independent  new 
continent  had  been  found  was  beginning  to  be  doubted.* 
This  doubt  seemed  to  follow  close  upon  the  publication  of 
the  report  of  Magellan's  expedition.^  It  indeed  appears  to 
be  generally  accepted  that  to  the  report  of  that  remarkable 
circumnavigation,  to  the  letters  of  Cortes  respecting  his 
Mexican  expedition,"  and  to  the  failure  of  his  and  of  other 


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ueren^jf.  D.trcbirp*f{ofmn  VmormiUtwa^t/H 
fifti,MvUibioTdiJtisTrictfcaJu,epijieUfin£<jiu 
tlutdrnU.  loqita  ?toIetiui^c^terorutna  fuptriorS 
geognpbonmi  bdHucinaiio  rcftSitur,  di.^  pr/fr. 
n^^Kcens'iiurntiiimit/iUTittnfuhi.  D< ditto* 
IK  Ptfr  loOTW.  Df yif«  Pttitdtft  ,u iiTHei\fttaie  mi 
liiTUan  tJ  prvpcrtitfni  g  r«iuan  ctcit,  prtf  cUri  <7 
Kmojitu  dipu  Teimfnitrr, 


CVM   PRIVILEGIO   INVICTISSl' 

jirnojiunoriim  inficrijoril  Ciroli  m*li,  «J  ^iu«= 
^tmtuflt^n  uct  typti  fmW*l,J(rtexaii«<icM  nt 
rethctcoiicrt  gn^dphUciftucigifit^f'^'^ 
Sd  antani4miiBnmfUni,tt*if*'^i'"' 
ftffnmutttafrMUt, 


Fig.  48.  Hemispheres  of  Franciscus  Monachus,  1526. 


Spanish  attempts  to  find  a  strait  north  of  the  equator 
through  which  one  might  pass  from  Oceanus  Occidentalis 
to  Oceanus  Orientalis,^  the  changed  conception  of  the 
geography  of  the  New  World  was  due. 

This  changed  conception  seems  to  have  found  first  expres- 
sion, on  a  map,  in  a  little  volume  prepared  by  Franciscus 
Monachus,  a  friar  of  Mechlin,  about  1525.  The  title  of  this 
volume  reads  in  part,^  'De  orbis  situ  ac  descriptione.  ad 
Reuerendiss.  D.  archiepiscopum  Fanormitanum,  Francisci, 
Monachi  ordinis  Franciscani,  epistola  sane  qua  lucu- 
lenta  .  .  .'    'A   very   excellent   letter   from   Franciscus,    a 

[  96  ] 


Second  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

monk  of  the  Franciscan  Order,  to  the  Most  Reverend  Arch- 
bishop of  Palermo,  touching  the  site  and  description  of  the 
world,'  with  a  colophon  reading  "Excudebat  Martinus 
Caesar,  expensis  honesti  viri  Rolandi  Bollaert  .  .  ."  "Mar- 
tinus Caesar  prepared  this  at  the  expense  of  the  upright  man 
Roland  Bollert."  Its  two  small  woodcut  maps  representing 
the  world  in  hemispheres,  respectively  the  Old  and  the  New 
World  (Fig.  48),  are  of  striking  historical  interest,  while  the 
text  contains  many  references  which  are  of  importance  for 
the  light  they  cast  upon  the  geographical  opinions  of  the 
time  respecting  the  New  World.  Here,  as  noted,  the  New 
World  is  first  represented  on  a  map  as  having  distinctly  an 
Asiatic  connection,  the  southern  continent  (South  America) 
being  separated  from  the  northern  only  by  that  narrow 
strait  which  we  find  so  prominently  represented  on  the 
Maiollo  map  of  1527,  and  there  called  "stretto  dubitoso."^ 
While  these  hemispheres  cannot  themselves  be  referred  to 
as  a  globe,  they  may  serve  to  give  us  a  general  idea  of  the 
geographical  representations  on  the  globe,  which,  as  appears 
probable,  was  at  that  time  constructed  by  the  author  of  the 
text.  To  the  Ecclesiastical  Prince,  to  whom  Franciscus  dedi- 
cated his  little  volume,  information  was  sent  concerning  his 
globe  on  which  he  had  drawn  by  hand  a  map  of  the  world 
as  he  said,  the  reply  to  his  letter  containing  the  following 
statement,  "Orbis  globum,  in  quo  terrae  ac  maria  luculenter 
depicta  sunt,  una  cum  epistola  accepimus."  "We  accept  the 
globe  of  the  world  on  which  the  land  and  the  seas  are  ele- 
gantly depicted,  together  with  the  epistle.""  Being  a  gift 
it  would  seem  reasonable  to  conclude  that  the  globe  was 
not  duplicated  and  offered  for  sale  and  that  the  example 
referred  to  was  therefore  probably  unique.  The  text  of  the 
'De  orbis  situ  .  .  .  ,'  as  it  appears,  was  printed  because  it 
was  thought  there  was  much  contained  therein  that  was  new 
and  not  in  harmony  with  geographical  ideas  hitherto  ex- 
pressed. The  first  edition  was  undated,  nor  was  the  second 
dated,  but  it  agreed  in  practically  all  particulars  with  the 

[  97  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

first  excepting  a  slight  alteration  in  the  title.  A  third  edition 
was  issued  in  the  year  1565,  and  is  still  known  in  many 
copies,  of  which  Gallois  gives  an  excellent  reprint  in  his 
biography  of  Orontius  Finius."  It  is  in  the  first  and  second 
editions  that  the  hemispheres  appear;  they  are  wanting  in 
the  third,  but  as  a  substitute  therefor  a  small  globe  resting 
on  a  base  appears  on  the  verso  of  the  title-page,  which  in  its 
general  features  may  be  a  representation  of  Franciscus' 
globe. 

Hakluyt,  in  his  'Discourse  on  Western  Planting,'  alludes 
to  "an  olde  excellent  globe  in  the  Queenes  privie  gallory 
at  Westminster  which  also  seemeth  to  be  of  Verarsanus 
makinge,  havinge  the  coste  described  in  Italian,  which 
laieth  oute  the  very  selfe  same  streite  necke  of  lande  in 
latitude  of  40.  degrees,  with  the  sea  joynninge  harde  on 
bothe  sides,  as  it  dothe  on  Panama  and  Nombre  di  Dios; 
which  would  be  a  matter  of  singule  importannce,  yf  it 
shoulde  be  true,  as  it  is  not  unlikely."^"  To  this  particular 
globe  we  do  not  seem  to  be  able  to  find  any  other  allusion. 

In  the  geographical  department  of  the  Bibliotheque  Na- 
tionale  there  may  be  found  an  exceedingly  well-executed 
globe,  neither  signed  nor  dated,  but  which  appears  to  have 
been  constructed  about  the  year  1528."  It  is  an  unmounted 
gilded  copper  sphere  (Fig.  49),  having  a  diameter  of  about 
23  cm.  Its  title  reads  "Nova  et  Integra  universi  orbs  de- 
scriptio,"  "A  new  and  complete  description  of  the  entire 
world,"  which,  with  all  legends  and  local  names,  is  en- 
graved in  small  capitals.  Based  upon  the  description  we 
possess  of  the  Schoner  globe  of  1523,  and  upon  the  close 
resemblance  of  its  coast  outlines  to  those  of  the  Weimar 
globe  of  1533,  there  is  reason  for  assigning  it  to  the 
Schonerian  school.  It,  however,  is  to  be  noted  that  the 
nomenclature  of  the  northeast  coast  of  North  America  is 
very  different  from  that  which  appears  on  the  last-men- 
tioned globe,  and  that  it  more  nearly  resembles  in  that 
region  the  simple  cordiform  map  of  Orontius  Finius  of  the 

[  98  ] 


fcif^ 


*''^^w — ^ — -^ 


-i>V", 


Fig.  49.  Gilt  Globe,  ca.  1528. 


Fig.  56a.  Western  Hemisphere  of  \'opel  Terrestrial  Globe. 


Second  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

year  1536."  The  latest  geographical  information  which  it 
records  seems  to  relate  to  the  expedition  of  Verrazano,  In 
the  region  corresponding  to  the  present  New  England,  we 
find  the  legend  "Terra  Francesca  nuper  Lustrata." 
The  Gulf  of  Mexico  is  called  "Sinus  S.  Michaelis,"  and 
the  Caribbean  Sea,  "Mare  Herbidium."  In  South  America 
are  the  conspicuous  legends  "America  Inventa  1497," 
"Brazilio  Regio,"  and  "Terra  Nova."  The  great  Ant- 
arctic land  bears  the  inscription  "Regio  Patalis."  The 
Amazon  appears  as  a  river  of  considerable  length,  with 
numerous  tributaries.  The  course  of  Magellan's  voyage,  so 
frequently  laid  down  on  the  maps  of  the  period,  here  finds 
record  in  the  threadlike  line  which  encircles  the  globe.  As 
in  the  hemispheres  of  Franciscus,  so  here,  America  is  laid 
down  as  a  part  of  the  Asiatic  continent.  The  workmanship 
of  the  globe  is  equal  to  the  best  that  one  could  find  in  the 
Italy,  France  or  Germany  of  that  day,  while  the  few  Ger- 
man words  among  the  numerous  Latin  names,  as  "Baden," 
"Braunschweig,"  and  "Wien,"  give  some  support  for  the 
claim  that  it  is  of  German  origin.  A  Spanish  origin,  as  has 
sometimes  been  claimed  for  it,  can  hardly  be  accepted. 

Parmentier,  a  native  of  the  famous  seaport  Dieppe,  had 
in  his  day,  as  a  maker  of  charts,  a  very  substantial  reputa- 
tion. Whether  one  should  conclude  from  references  to  him 
as  a  cartographer  that  he  busied  himself  with  the  construc- 
tion of  globes  cannot  be  definitely  determined,  as  these  ref- 
erences indicate  that  his  maps  were  merely  constructed  on  a 
projection  which  enabled  him  in  some  measure  to  represent 
the  curved  surface  of  the  earth.  Schefer,  in  his  work  'Le 
discours  de  la  navigation  de  Jean  et  Raoul  Permentier,' 
says,  "Permentier  estoit  bon  cosmographe  et  geographe,  et 
par  lui  ont  este  composez  plusieurs  mappes  monde  en  globe 
et  en  plat  et  plusieurs  cartes  marines,  sur  les  quelles  plu- 
sieurs ont  navigue  seurement."  "Parmentier  was  a  good 
cosmographer  and  geographer,  and  many  maps  of  the  world 
both  in  the  form  of  globes  and  as  plane  maps  were  made 

[  99  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

by  him,  also  numerous  marine  charts  by  means  of  which 
many  sailed  the  seas  with  safety."^^ 

Vasari  gives  us  information  concerning  one  Francesco 
Libri,  member  of  a  famous  Veronese  artist  family,  who  won 
distinction  as  a  globe  maker  in  the  early  sixteenth  century, 
and  who  apparently  was  most  active  in  this  field  of  en- 
deavor about  the  year  1530.  Although  all  trace  of  the 
globes  he  is  said  to  have  constructed  is  lost,  Vasari's  refer- 
ence is  worthy  citation. 

"Among  other  things,"  says  that  interesting,  if  not  al- 
ways accurate,  Italian  biographer,  "he  constructed  a  large 
globe  of  wood,  being  four  feet  in  diameter;  this  he  then 
covered  externally  with  a  strong  glue,  so  that  there  should 
be  no  danger  of  crack  or  other  injury.  Now  the  globe  or 
ball  thus  constructed  was  to  serve  as  a  terrestrial  globe. 
Wherefore  when  it  had  been  carefully  divided  and  exactly 
measured  under  the  direction  and  in  the  presence  of  Fra- 
castro  and  Baroldi,  both  well  versed  in  physics  and  dis- 
tinguished as  cosmographers  and  astrologers,  it  was  after- 
ward to  be  painted  by  Francesco  for  a  Venetian  gentleman, 
Messer  Andrea  Navagero,  a  most  learned  orator  and  poet, 
who  intended  to  make  a  present  of  the  same  to  King 
Francis  of  France,  to  whom  he  was  about  to  be  sent  as 
ambassador  from  the  Republic.  But  scarcely  had  Navagero 
arrived  in  France  and  entered  on  his  office,  when  he  died. 
The  work  consequently  remained  unfinished,  which  was 
much  to  be  regretted  since,  executed  by  Francesco,  under 
the  guidance  and  with  the  advice  and  assistance  of  two  men 
so  distinguished  as  were  Fracastro  and  Baroldi,  it  would 
doubtless  have  turned  out  a  very  remarkable  production. 
It  remained  unfinished,  however,  as  I  have  said,  and  what 
is  worse,  even  that  which  had  been  done  received  consid- 
erable injury,  I  know  not  of  what  kind,  in  the  absence  of 
Francesco;  yet  spoiled  as  it  was,  the  globe  was  purchased 
by  Messer  Bartolommeo  Lonichi  who  has  never  been  pre- 
vailed upon  to  give  it  up,  although  he  has  been  frequently 

[  100  ] 


c 

o 

a 

•-5 

, 

o^ 

"-M 

m 

c 

>^ 

<v 

"  ■* 

^ 

^ 

-^^W 


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CO 


c 


d 
SJD 


Second  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

much  entreated  to  do  so,  and  offered  large  sums  of  money 
for  it." 

"Francesco  had  made  two  smaller  globes  before  com- 
mencing the  large  one;  and  of  these  one  is  now  in  the  pos- 
session of  Mazzanti,  Archdeacon  of  the  cathedral  of  Verona; 
the  other  belonging  to  the  Count  Raimondo  dell  a  Torre, 
and  is  now  the  property  of  his  son,  the  Count  Giovanni 
Battista,  by  whom  it  is  ver}^  greatly  valued,  seeing  that  this 
also  was  constructed  with  the  assistance  and  after  measure- 
ments of  Fracastro,  who  was  a  very  intimate  friend  of 
Count  Raimondo."" 

As  before  noted,  the  exact  date  when  Francesco  con- 
structed his  globes  is  unknown.  Vasari,  however,  informs 
us,  as  noted  above,  that  the  large  one  was  constructed  for 
Andrea  Navagero,  who  wished  to  present  it  to  the  King 
of  France,  and  that  very  shortly  after  his  arrival  in  France 
on  his  special  mission  his  death  occurred,  which  we  know 
to  have  been  the  eighth  of  May,  1529.  It  must  therefore 
have  been  in  that  year  that  Francesco  completed  the  con- 
struction of  his  globe.  It  would  be  interesting  to  know  the 
geographical  configuration  of  the  New  World  as  laid  down 
by  Fracastro  and  Francesco  on  this  large  globe,  remember- 
ing that  it  was  not  long  after  the  mission  of  Navagero  to 
King  Francis  that  the  first  Cartier  expedition  sailed  for  the 
western  continent.  We  cannot  be  certain,  as  stated,  of  its 
geographical  data,  but  it  seems  probable  that  it  followed  the 
Verrazanian  type  as  represented,  for  example,  in  the  Maiollo 
map  of  1527,  or  in  the  Verrazano  map  of  1529. 

The  Lorraine  Museum  of  Nancy  possesses  a  fine  globe, 
neither  signed  nor  dated,  but  which  usually  is  referred  to 
as  the  Nancy  globe  (Figs.  50,  50^),  and  is  thought  to  have 
been  constructed  about  the  year  1530.^^  It  is  a  silver  ball  16 
cm.  in  diameter,  divided  on  the  line  of  the  equator  into  hemi- 
spheres, and  is  supported  on  a  small  statue  of  Atlas.  The 
equator,  the  tropics,  the  polar  circles,  the  zodiac,  and  one 
meridian  circle  passing  through  the  western  part  of  Asia 

[  101  1 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

in  the  Old  World  and  through  the  peninsula  of  Florida 
in  the  New  World,  are  represented.  It  is  an  object  of  inter- 
est not  only  for  its  scientific  value  in  giving  us  a  geographi- 
cal record  of  the  period,  but  it  is  also  of  interest  for  its  fine 
workmanship,  having  its  land  areas  gilded  and  its  seas  blue 
enameled,  in  which  sea  monsters  and  ships  of  artistic  design 
appear.  We  have  the  record  that  in  the  year  1662,  Charles 
IV,  Duke  of  Lorraine,  presented  it  to  the  church  of  Notre 
Dame  de  Sion  in  his  residence  city,  and  that  by  this  church 
it  was  long  used  as  a  pyx.^^  There  is  a  striking  resemblance 
of  its  land  configurations,  and  of  its  geographical  nomencla- 
ture to  that  of  the  Gilt  globe,  of  the  Wooden  globe,  and  of 
the  World  map  of  Orontius  Finaeus  of  1531.  The  New 
World  is  represented  as  a  part  of  the  Asiatic  continent,  and 
the  central  section  of  that  region,  to  which  we  may  refer  as 
North  America,  is  designated  "Asia  Orientalis"  and  "Asia 
Major."  To  the  east  of  these  names  are  numerous  regional 
names,  conspicuous  among  which  are  "Terra  Francesca," 
"Hispania  Major,"  and  "Terra  Florida."  The  Gulf  of 
Mexico  appears  as  "Mare  Cathayum."  Mexico  bears  the 
name  "Hispania  Nova,"  while  the  sea  to  the  west  is  named 
"Mare  Indicum  Australe."  The  South  American  continent 
is  called  "America  Nova,"  and  the  names  are  very  numerous 
which  have  been  given  to  the  various  sections,  among  which 
we  find  "Terra  Firma,"  "Fapagelli,"  "Terra  Canibale," 
"Farias,"  and  "Peru  Provincia."  The  large  austral  land 
bears  the  name  "Brasielie  Regio,"  which  name  is  placed 
southeast  of  Africa,  and  the  name  "Patalis  Regio"  appears 
southwest  of  South  America. 

Gemma  Frisius  (1508-1555),  a  native  of  Docum  (Fig. 
51),  and  for  a  number  of  years  professor  of  medicine  and 
mathematics  in  the  University  of  Louvain,^®  issued  a  little 
book,  in  the  year  1530,  bearing  the  title  'De  principiis 
Astronomiae  et  Cosmographiae,  deque  usu  globi,  ab  eodem 
editi,  item  de  orbis  divisione  et  insulis,  rebusque  nuper 
inventis  .  .  .  Antverp,  1530.'*°  It  seems  probable  that  this 

[  102  ] 


\^-. 


■  ■  i^i^'M^Pifc 


CO 
<V 

Oh 
1/1 


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O 

5 
>^ 

o 
C 
rt 

o 
*^ 


Second  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

was  issued  to  serve  as  explanatory  text  for  a  globe  or  globes 
he  had  constructed  or  was  preparing  to  construct.  In  it  we 
have  one  of  the  earliest  technical  yet  practical  explanations 
of  the  parts  and  uses  of  the  globe,  and  a  somewhat  detailed 
statement  how  such  instruments  may  be  serviceably  em- 
ployed in  cosmographical  studies.  On  the  title-page  there 
appears  the  representation  of  a  globe  resting  on  a  base  hav- 
ing three  feet,  which  has  been  thought  to  be  a  representa- 
tion of  his  completed  work."^  We  are  told  in  his  'Epistola 
salutatoria,'  at  least  in  an  implied  manner,  that  there  were 
to  be  numerous  copies  of  the  globes,  seeing  that  they  were 
intended  for  the  trade,  and  Roscelli's  statement  would  lead 
us  to  believe  that  they  had  found  their  way  into  Italy.  All 
copies,  however,  appear  to  have  been  lost  until  a  few  years 
since,  when  both  a  terrestrial  and  a  celestial  globe  of 
Frisius'  making  was  found  in  the  Gymnasium  Francisceum 
of  Zerbst,  to  which  discovery  a  very  considerable  interest 
and  importance  attaches.  In  a  paper  read  before  the  Inter- 
national Congress  of  Americanists  in  1904,  Dr.  W.  Walter 
Ruge,  all  too  briefly,  describes  them,  from  which  paper  the 
following  information  is  taken." 

The  terrestrial  globe,  he  notes,  is  not  well  preserved, 
being  in  certain  parts  so  injured  as  to  render  the  inscrip- 
tions illegible;  but  in  this  fact  he,  however,  finds  a  certain 
compensation,  as  these  injuries  are  of  such  character  as  to 
disclose  the  manner  of  construction.  The  globe  ball,  he 
finds,  consists  of  two  hemispheres  of  papier-mache  3  mm. 
in  thickness  over  which  is  a  layer  of  plaster  1^  mm.  in 
thickness.  On  the  smooth  surface  thus  furnished  the  twelve 
gores  of  which  the  map  is  composed  had  been  pasted,  these 
gores  extending  from  pole  to  pole."^  Though  undated,  the 
following  inscription  gives  information  concerning  the  map 
maker  and  the  engravers.  "Gemma  Frisius  Medicus  ac 
Mathematicus  ex  varijs  descripsit  geographicorum  observa- 
tionibus,  atque  in  banc  formam  redegit;  Gerardus  Merca- 
tor  Rupelmundanus  coelavit  cum  Caspare  a  Myrica,  cui  et 

[  103  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

sumptibus  permaximis  et  laboribus  nequaquam  minoribus 
opus  constat."  "Gemma  Frisius,  physician  and  mathemati- 
cian, made  (this  globe)  from  the  various  observations  of 
geographers,  and  fashioned  it  in  this  form.  Gerhard  Merca- 
tor  of  Rupelmunde  with  Caspar  Miracus  engraved  (it)  and 
expended  on  the  work  a  large  sum  and  no  little  labor." 

Frisius  appears  in  this  legend  as  the  maker  of  the  map, 
with  Mercator  and  Myrica  as  the  engravers.  The  date  of 
construction  is  not  given,  but  it  clearly  does  not  belong  to 
the  issue  of  1530  referred  to  above.  We  read,  for  example, 
along  the  west  coast  of  South  America  such  names  as 
"Tumbes,"  "tangara  siue  s.  michaelis,"  and  "Turicarami 
fluvius,"  and  find  that  this  west  coast  is  sketched  as  far  as 
latitude  5  degrees  south.  S.  Michaelis  was  founded  in  1532, 
and  information  concerning  Fizarro's  discoveries  probably 
did  not  reach  Europe  until  1534.  Europe  has  still  many  of 
the  Ptolemaic  features,  as  has  also  the  continent  of  Asia. 
North  America,  which  is  rather  better  drawn  than  on  any 
of  the  earlier  maps,  has  the  legend  "Hispania  Maior  a 
Nuno  Gusmafio  devicta  anno  1530."  The  west  coast  be- 
comes a  very  indefinite  line  at  latitude  25  degrees  north, 
at  which  point  we  read  "Matonchel  siue  petra  portus."  It 
then  sweeps  northeastward  in  a  flattened  curve  to  "Bacca- 
learum  Regio"  with  its  "Promotoriu  agricule  seu  cabo  del 
labrador."  From  the  land  around  the  north  pole,  which  is 
connected  with  Asia,  the  continent  is  separated  by  a  narrow 
strait  which  is  referred  to  as  "Fretum  arcticum  siue  trium 
fratrum,  par  quod  lusitani  in  orientem  et  ad  Indios  et  Mo- 
luccas nauigare  conati  sunt."  "The  Arctic  strait  or  the  strait 
of  the  three  brothers  through  which  the  Portuguese  at- 
tempted to  sail  to  the  East  and  to  the  Indies  and  the 
Moluccas."  No  general  name  is  given  to  South  America,  but 
we  find  such  regional  names  as  "Nw  Peru  Provincia"  and 
east  of  this  "Bresilia."  In  the  interior  are  such  legends  and 
local  names  as  "Caxamalca  fuit  regis  Atabaliape,"  "Cuzco," 
"Cincha,"  "Collao."  The  nomenclature  shows  decided  Span- 

[  104  ] 


Fig.  51.  Portrait  of  Gemma  Frisius. 


Second  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

ish  influence,  as  we  find  "la  laguna  poblada,"  "R.  de  los 
esclavos,"  "R.  d.  los  furmos,"  "Cabo  corto." 

Ruge  further  notes  the  finding  in  the  same  Gymnasium 
of  Zerbst  of  a  celestial  globe  on  which  appears  the  follow- 
ing legend,  "Faciebant  Gemma  Frisius  medicus  ac  mathe- 
maticus,  Gaspar  a  Myrica  &  Gerardus  Mercator  Rupelmun- 
danus  anno  a  partu  virgineo  1537."  "Gemma  Frisius 
physician  and  mathematician,  Gaspar  Myrica  and  Gerhard 
Mercator  of  Rupelmunde  made  this  globe  in  the  year  1537." 
A  comparison  of  this  legend  with  that  of  the  terrestrial 
globe  leads  to  the  somewhat  ingenious  argument  that  the 
latter,  though  undated,  is  the  older  of  the  two.  We  know 
that  Mercator  was  a  pupil  of  Gemma  Frisius,^*  and  that 
after  leaving  his  university  studies  he  found  employment 
with  the  master  in  draughting  maps  and  in  the  construction 
of  mathematical  instruments.  In  the  dated  legend  of  1537 
Mercator  and  Myrica  appear  to  have  advanced  in  impor- 
tance, seeing  that  in  the  undated  legend  they  are  merely 
referred  to  as  the  engravers,  while  Frisius  alone  is  men- 
tioned as  the  maker  of  the  map.  Since  this  discovery  we  are 
better  informed  as  to  the  source  of  Mercator's  information 
which  he  gives  in  his  map  of  1538;  the  evidence  being  con- 
clusive that  in  the  main  he  followed  the  records  of  Frisius, 
adapting  his  map,  however,  to  the  double  cordiform  pro- 

•  •  25 

jection. 

Harrisse  describes  a  gilded  copper  globe,  belonging  to  the 
collection  of  the  Bibliotheque  Nationale,  having  a  diameter 
of  14  cm.  and  bearing  the  author  and  date  legend  reading 
"Robertus  de  Bailly  1530."^^  It  is  composed  of  two  parts 
rather  insecurely  joined  on  the  line  of  the  equator,  and  is 
entirely  without  mountings.  The  engraving  of  the  names, 
all  in  small  capitals,  has  been  remarkably  well  done.  In  out- 
lining the  contour  of  the  New  World  the  draughtsman  of 
the  map  has  been  influenced  by  the  Verrazanian  data,  and 
although  exhibiting  minor  differences  in  details  there  is  a 
striking  resemblance  to  the  map  of  MaioUo  of  1527,'^  to 

[  105  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

that  of  Verrazano  of  1529,'^  and  to  that  of  Ulpius  of 
1541."''  The  region  called  by  Maiollo  "Francesca,"  by  Ver- 
razano "Verrazana  sive  Gallia  nova,"  by  Ulpius  "Verra- 
zana  sive  Nova  Gallia,"  Robertus  calls  "Verrazana."  In 
addition  we  find  such  names  as  'Terra  Laboratoris," 
"Bachaliao,"  "La  Florida,"  "Tenustitan,"  "Farias," 
"MuNDUs  Novus,"  "America,"  "St.  Crusis,"  "Terra 
Magellanica." 

A  second  globe  by  Robertus  de  Bailly  may  be  found  in 
the  library  of  Mr.  J.  P.  Morgan  of  New  York  City  (Fig. 
52).  This  example,  signed  and  dated  "Robertus  de  Bailly 
1530,"  and  acquired  a  few  years  since,  may  be  counted  one 
of  the  finest  metal  globes  of  the  period.  None  can  be  re- 
ferred to  which  is  in  a  better  state  of  preservation,  if  we  can 
accept  its  mounting  as  the  original. ^°  In  Rosenthal's  cata- 
logue No.  100  it  is  referred  to  as  a  "Verrazzano-Globus," 
which  is  clearly  an  error,  if  there  was  thought  of  ascribing 
it  to  Giovanni  Verrazano,  the  explorer,  or  to  his  brother 
Hieronimus,  the  chart  maker.  The  outlines  of  its  map  of 
the  New  World  are  clearly  of  Verrazanian  origin  (Fig.  53), 
which  therefore  give  to  it  a  particular  interest  and  value. 

Harrisse,  in  1896,  called  attention  to  his  discovery  of 
two  globes  apparently  of  the  early  fourth  decade  of  the 
sixteenth  century. 

The  first  of  these  he  refers  to  as  a  gilded  copper  sphere 
about  12  cm.  in  diameter,  and  fashioned  to  contain  the 
mechanism  by  means  of  which  it  is  made  to  revolve.  It  is 
neither  signed  nor  dated.  At  the  extremity  of  the  rod  passing 
through  the  sphere  is  an  arrangement  apparently  for  attach- 
ment to  a  second  piece  of  mechanism,  probably  a  planeta- 
rium. It  is  surrounded  by  a  disc  on  which  the  hours  are  en- 
graved in  Roman  numerals.  The  geographical  outlines  are 
clearly  of  Verrazanian  origin,  representing  the  New  World 
relatively  long  and  narrow  and  having  no  Asiatic  connec- 
tion. With  few  exceptions  the  nomenclature  is  in  the  Latin 
language,  but  we  read  for  instance  "El  pasaie  de  S.  Michel" 

[  106  ] 


Second  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

and  "Rio  de  las  Amazonas.  The  name  "America"  appears 
only  on  the  southern  continent,  where  we  also  find  such 
legends  as  "Francisi  Pizarri  hoc  m(onticu'?)  lo  contra  indos 
insignis  victoria  anno  1533,"  and  off  the  coast  of  Peru 
"Ulterius  incognitum." 

The  second  of  these  globes  is  likewise  of  copper,  having 
a  diameter  of  21  cm.  and  carries  the  inscription  "Christoff 
Schiepp  sculpsit.  Augusta,"  which  is  placed  around  a  car- 
touch  especially  designed  for  a  representation  of  the  coat 
of  arms  of  the  Welser  family.  This  family,  it  will  be  re- 
membered, figured  conspicuously  in  connection  with  the 
German  attempt  at  the  colonization  of  Venezuela.  The  en- 
graved title  of  the  map  is  practically  the  same  as  that  to  be 
found  on  the  Paris  gilt  globe  and  reads  "Nova  et  Integra 
universi  orbis  descriptio."  It  omits,  however,  the  legend 
"Francesca"  and  "Verrazana  sive  nova  Gallia,"  which  fact 
may  be  due  to  its  German  origin.  The  nomenclature  in 
Mexico  and  in  South  America  is  very  detailed.  The  La 
Plata  River,  for  example,  as  in  the  Gilt  globe  and  in  the 
Wooden  globe,  is  called  "Sinus  Juliani" ;  the  Pacific  is  called 
"Oceanus  Magnus  Gelanicus."  The  austral  land  is  referred 
to  as  "Terra  australis  nuper  inventa,  sed  nondum  plene 
examinata." 

While  the  first  of  these  globes  is  unmounted,  Scheipp's 
globe  is  furnished  with  gilded  meridian  and  horizon  circle, 
the  whole  being  supported  by  a  dolphin  on  a  plinth  of 
ebony. 

In  the  year  1533  Johann  Schoner  issued  a  small  tract 
bearing  the  title  'Joannis  Schoneri  Carolostadii  Opusculum 
Geographicum  ex  diversorum  libris  ac  cartis  summa  cura  & 
diligentia  collectum,  accomodatum  ad  recenter  elaboratum 
ab  eodem  globum  descriptiones  terrenae.'  'A  geographical 
tract  of  John  Schoner  of  Carlstadt,  extracted  from  various 
books  and  maps  with  much  care  and  diligence  and  arranged 
for  a  recently  elaborated  globe,  being  a  description  of  the 
earth. '^^  This  little  book  was  dedicated  to  John  Frederick 

[  107  ] 


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Fig*  53-  Terrestrial  Globe  of  Robertus  de  Bailly,  1530. 


Second  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

of  Saxony  "Ex  urbe  Norica  Id.  Novembris  Anno  MD- 
XXXIII."  To  it  more  than  usual  interest  attaches.  As  the 
title  states,  it  was  issued  as  an  explanatory  text  for  a  new 
globe,^"  while  in  referring  to  the  geography  of  the  New 
World  it  clearly  sets  forth  a  reason  for  the  changed  notion 
concerning  that  geography,  to  which  allusion  has  already 
been  made,^^  a  change  from  a  belief  in  the  independent  posi- 
tion of  the  new  lands  to  a  belief  that  these  lands  were  but 
a  part  of  the  continent  of  Asia.  With  reference  to  this  point 
Schoner  says,  "Unde  longissimo  tractu  occidentem  versus  ab 
Hispani  terra  est,  quae  Mexico  et  Temistitan  vocatur  supe- 
riori  India,  quam  priores  vocavere  Quinsay  id  est  civitatem 
coeli  eorum  lingui."  "By  a  very  long  circuit  westward, 
starting  from  Spain,  there  is  a  land  called  Mexico  and 
Temistitan  in  Upper  India,  which  in  former  times  was 
called  Quinsay,  that  is  the  city  of  Heaven,  in  the  language 
of  the  country."  He  adds  the  statement,  "Americus  tamen 
Vesputius  maritima  loca  Indiae  superioris  ex  Hispaniis 
navigio  ad  occidentem  palustrans,  earn  partem  que  supe- 
riore  Indiae  est,  credidit  esse  insulam,  quam  a  suo  nomine 
vocari  institituit.  Alii  vero  nunc  recentiores  Hydrographi 
eam  terram  ulterius  ex  alia  parte  invenerunt  esse  continen- 
tem  Asiae  nam  sic  etiam  ad  Moluccas  insulas  superioris  In- 
diae pervenerunt."  "Americus  Vespuccius,  sailing  along  the 
coasts  of  Upper  India,  from  Spain  to  the  west,  thought  that 
the  said  part  which  is  connected  with  Upper  India,  was  an 
island  which  he  had  caused  to  be  called  after  his  own  name. 
But  now  other  hydrographers  of  more  recent  date  have 
found  that  that  land  (South  America)  and  others  beyond 
constitute  a  continent,  which  is  Asia,  and  so  they  reached  as 
far  as  the  Molucca  Islands  in  Upper  India."  A  later  pas- 
sage in  this  tract  is  likewise  interesting  in  this  connection. 
After  noting  that  America  had  been  called  the  fourth  part 
of  the  world  he  adds,  "Modo  vero  per  novissimas  naviga- 
tiones,  factas  anno  post  Christum  1519  per  Magellanum 
ducem  navium  invictissimi  Caesaris  divi  Caroli  etc.  versus 

[  109  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

Moluccas  insulas,  quas  alii  Moluquas  vocant,  in  supremo 
oriente  positas,  earn  terram  invenerunt  esse  continentem 
superioris  Indiae,  quae  pars  est  Asiae."  "But  very  lately, 
thanks  to  the  very  recent  navigations  accomplished  in  the 
year  1519  A.  C.  by  Magellan,  the  commander  of  the  expe- 
dition of  the  invincible,  the  divine  Charles  etc.  towards  the 
Molucca  Islands,  which  some  call  Maluquas  which  are  situ- 
ated in  the  extreme  east,  it  has  been  ascertained  that  the 
said  country  (America)  was  the  continent  of  Upper  India, 
which  is  a  part  of  Asia." 

It  seems  very  probable  that  the  globe  referred  to  in  this 
tract  is  one  of  those  (Figs.  54,  54^),  bearing  neither  date  nor 
name  of  maker,  to  be  found  in  the  Grand  Ducal  Library  of 
Weimar.^^  This  conclusion,  it  may  be  stated,  is  based  upon 
the  fact  of  a  striking  agreement  between  the  configurations 
on  the  globe  and  the  descriptions  to  be  found  in  Schoner's 
tract.  The  date  1534,  which  appears  on  the  support,  is 
doubtless  of  later  origin  than  the  globe  itself,  just  as  the 
date  1510  inscribed  on  the  horizon  circle  of  the  Behaim 
globe  is  known  not  to  indicate  the  year  in  which  that  work 
was  completed.  Wieser  expresses  the  conviction  that  this 
globe  is  an  improved  reproduction  of  the  one  constructed 
in  the  year  1523,  and  he  notes  the  interesting  fact  of  its 
configurations  resembling  closely  those  of  the  Orontius 
Finaeus  map  of  1531,  believing  that  it  was  the  latter, 
however,  who  was  the  borrower. 

The  Schiepp  globe,  referred  to  above,  appears  to  have 
been  constructed  for  a  member  of  the  Welser  family,  a  rich 
patrician  of  South  Germany.  To  Raymond  Fugger,  likewise 
a  South  German  patrician,  a  member  of  a  rich  banker  fam- 
ily of  Augsburg,  one  Martin  Furtembach  dedicated  a  terres- 
trial globe  which  he  had  constructed  in  the  year  1535.^^ 
This  date  and  the  wording  of  the  dedication  we  get  from  a 
record  of  the  year  1565.  "Viro  Magniiico  Dn.  Raymundo 
Fuggero,  Invictissimorum  Caroli  V.  Imperatoris,  Ferdinandi 
primi  Regis  Romanorum  a  Consilijs,  prudentissimo,  studio- 

[   no  ] 


Fig.  54.  Schoner's  Terrestrial  Globe,   1533  (Probable). 


Second  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

sorum  Mecaenasi,  pauperum  Christi  asylo  cantatissimo, 
Martinus  Furtenbachius  Abusiacus,  Astrophilus  typum  hunc 
Cosmographicum  universalem  composuit  atque  dedicavit 
Anno  a  nato  Christo  M.D.XXXV."  "To  the  Magnificent 
Dn.  Raymond  Fugger,  most  competent  counselor  of  the 
most  invincible  Prince  Charles  V  Emperor,  and  Ferdinand 
the  First  King  of  the  Romans,  a  Maecenas  of  scholars,  a 
most  provident  supporter  of  the  poor  in  Christ,  Martin 
Furtembach  lover  of  astronomy,  composed  and  dedicated 
this  universal  cosmographical  figure,  in  the  year  of  Christ 
1535."  This  globe,  which  we  learn  was  taken  from  the 
Fugger  castle  of  Kirchbay  to  the  Vienna  Imperial  Library, 
in  what  year  we  do  not  know,  seems  to  have  disappeared 
some  time  after  1734,  since,  as  Harrisse  notes,  no  reference 
to  it  can  be  found  after  that  date.  It  is  described  as  a  gilt 
copper  ball  of  large  size  and  an  object  of  real  art,  being 
"ornamented  on  all  sides  with  various  figures  of  exquisite 
engraving,  and  is  supported  by  a  figure  of  Atlas  with  his 
right  hand  holding  a  compass,  but  with  the  rest  of  his  body 
supported  by  his  left  hand,  in  a  stooping  posture." 

In  addition  to  the  globes  previously  referred  to  as  be- 
longing to  the  Bibliotheque  Nationale,  there  is  one  sup- 
posed to  have  been  constructed  about  the  year  1535.  It  is 
neither  signed  nor  dated,  but  is  usually  referred  to  as  the 
Paris  Wooden  globe. ^^  The  diameter  of  the  sphere  is  20 
cm.  It  is  without  the  usual  mountings  of  meridian  and  hori- 
zon circles  but  is  supported  by  an  iron  rod  attached  to  a 
wooden  base  (Fig.  ^^),  which  rod  serves  as  an  axis  about 
which  it  may  be  revolved.  A  thick  layer  of  paint  covers 
the  surface  of  the  ball,  on  which  the  geographical  names, 
legends,  and  configurations  have  been  inscribed  with  a  pen 
in  a  running  hand.  The  poor  calligraphy  suggests  that  it  is 
not  the  work  of  an  expert  cartographer,  but  of  one  who 
somewhat  hastily  and  carelessly  had  undertaken  to  copy  a 
globe  map  of  the  type  represented  in  the  work  of  Franciscus, 
of  the  maker  of  the  Paris  Gilt  globe,  or  of  Schoner  in  his 

[  111  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

globe  of  1533.  Meridians  are  represented  at  intervals  of 
ten  degrees  commencing  at  a  prime  meridian  which  passes 
through  the  Cape  Verde  Islands,  while  the  parallels  are 
similarly  marked,  the  graduation  being  indicated  on  the 
prime  meridian.  The  globe  maker  has  retained  in  his  repre- 
sentations the  old  climatic  idea,  of  which  climates  there  are 
nine  specifically  designated.  We  find  on  this  globe  such 
inscriptions  as  "Baccalarum  Regio,"  with  its  neighboring 
"Pelagus  Baccalarum,"  "Terra  Francesca,"  "Hispania 
Major,"  "Terra  Florida,"  with  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  bear- 
ing the  name  "M.  Cathayum"  as  in  the  Nancy  globe.  The 
South  American  continent  is  conspicuously  marked  as 
"America  Nova  Orbis  Pars,"  and  contains  in  addition  many 
regional  names.  The  western  ocean,  beginning  with  that 
part  which  washes  the  coast  of  Mexico,  thence  southward, 
is  called  "Mare  di  Sur,"  "Mare  Culuacanum,"  "Mare  In- 
dicum  Australe,"  "Mare  Pacificum,"  and  "Oceanus  Magel- 
lanicus."  The  location  of  the  colony  which  was  planted  by 
Pizarro  in  1532,  and  which  is  called  "S.  Michaelis,"  is 
made  prominent. 

Caspar  Vopel,^^  bom  at  Medebach  near  Cologne,  in  the 
year  1511,  was  of  that  group  of  German  cartographers  and 
globe  makers  active  in  the  second  quarter  of  the  sixteenth 
century  in  giving  to  the  general  public  a  knowledge  of  the 
great  geographical  discoveries  of  the  day.  Though  much  of 
the  information  through  the  maps  which  they  constructed 
was  strikingly  inaccurate,  their  work  is  none  the  less  inter- 
esting to  the  student  of  historical  geography.  It  appears  that 
Vopel  entered  the  University  of  Cologne  in  the  year  1526, 
that  at  a  later  date  he  became  a  professor  of  mathematics 
in  a  Cologne  gymnasium,  and  that  he  continued  to  reside 
in  this  city  until  his  death  in  the  year  1561.  During  these 
years  he  became  well  known  as  a  maker  of  maps  and  globes. 
Of  his  very  large  and  important  world  map,  issued  in  the 
year  1558,  and  which  so  admirably  sets  forth  his  geographi- 
cal notion  of  an  Asiatic  connection  of  the  New  World,  an 

[  112  ] 


Fig.  54a.  Schoner's  Celestial  Globe,  1533  (Probable). 


Second  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

original  copy  may  be  found  in  the  collection  of  Prince 
Liechtenstein,  which  is  reproduced,  after  Giriva's  redraught- 
ing,  in  Nordenskiold's  'Facsimile  Atlas.'^®  In  the  history  of 
cartography  his  map  of  Europe  and  his  Rhine  map  espe- 
cially merit  a  place  of  prominence. 

Nine  of  his  globes  are  known,  most  of  which  are  con- 
structed as  armillary  spheres,  having  within  the  numerous 
armillae  or  circles  a  small  terrestrial  globe,  or  at  least  that 
which  passes  as  a  representation  of  the  same.  His  first  work 
of  which  we  have  knowledge,  now  belonging  to  the  city  of 
Cologne,  and  to  be  found  in  the  collection  of  its  archives, 
is  inscribed  "Caspar  Medebach  opus  hoc  astronomicum  fecit 
1532  Martii."  It  is  a  credit  to  the  youthful  artist  and  cos- 
mographer,  suggesting,  says  Korth,^^  the  possession  of  a 
technic  resembling  that  of  Diirer.  This  is  a  celestial  globe 
28  cm.  in  diameter,  having  its  star  map  drawn  by  hand, 
which  is  now  somewhat  discolored  with  age. 

Four  years  later  Vopel  constructed  a  second  celestial 
globe,  apparently  a  reproduction  of  the  first  but  having 
its  map  printed  on  gores  which  he  pasted  on  the  surface  of 
the  sphere.  It  bears  the  inscription  "Caspar  Vopel,  Mede- 
bach, banc  Cosmogr.  faciebat  sphaeram  Coloniae  Ao  1536," 
has  the  same  diameter  as  the  one  of  1532,  and  is  now  its 
companion  in  the  city  archives  of  Cologne.*"  » 

The  National  Museum  of  Washington  possesses  a  fine 
example  of  Vopel's  work  (Fig.  9),  concerning  which  Mr. 
Maynard,  curator  of  Mechanical  Technology,  writes  that 
"the  globe  in  this  Museum  is  an  armillary  sphere  of  eleven 
metal  rings,  4^^  inches  in  diameter,  with  a  very  small  globe 
in  the  center.  The  rings  are  elaborately  inscribed  with 
astronomical  signs  and  scales,  with  names  in  Latin.  On  one 
of  the  rings  is  the  inscription,  'Caspar  Vopel,  Artium  Pro- 
fessor, Hanc  Sphaeram  Faciebat  Colonia,  1541.'  "" 

In  1542  he  constructed  his  first  terrestrial  globe,  a  copy 
of  which  is  to  be  found  in  the  Cologne  archives.*"  It  has  a 
diameter  of  28  cm.,  its  map  gores,  as  in  the  case  of  the  celes- 

[  113  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

tial  globe  of  1536,  being  printed  from  an  engraved  plate. 
Excepting  the  discoloration  of  age  and  a  slight  indenta- 
tion near  the  north  pole,  it  is  well  preserved.  The  title 
legend  reads  "Nova  et  integra  universi  orbis  descriptio." 
"A  new  and  complete  description  of  the  entire  globe."  A 
second  legend,  placed  in  the  middle  Atlantic,  reads  "Caspar 
Vopel  Medebach  geographicam  sphaeram  hanc  faciebat 
Coloniae  A.  1542."  "Caspar  Vopel  of  Medebach  made  this 
globe  in  1542  at  Cologne."  His  terrestrial  map  assures  us 
of  his  acceptance  of  the  idea  that  the  American  continent 
could  be  but  an  extension  of  the  continent  of  Asia;  that  is, 
like  his  predecessor  Schoner  and  others  of  the  second  quar- 
ter of  the  sixteenth  century,  referred  to  above,  he  had  con- 
cluded after  Magellan  had  found  a  termination  of  the  newly 
found  transatlantic  region  at  the  south,  and  no  passage- 
way from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific  north  of  the  equator 
had  been  found  though  search  had  frequently  been  made 
for  the  same,  this  country  could  therefore  no  longer  be  con- 
sidered as  an  independent  continent.  The  river  "Cham," 
which  on  his  map  he  made  to  empty  into  the  Gulf  of  Mex- 
ico, he  gives  as  the  dividing  line  between  "Hispania  Nova" 
and  "Cathay."  There  is  striking  evidence  that  Vopel  was 
acquainted  with  Orontius  Finaeus'  map  of  1531  or  its 
source,  as,  for  example,  he  writes  across  the  great  austral 
continent,  "Terra  Australis  recenter  inventa,  sed  nondum 
plene  cognita,"  adding  the  words  "Anno  1499,"  which  also 
appear  on  the  Paris  Wooden  globe  of  1535. 

In  the  Old  Nordiske  Museum  of  Copenhagen  is  an  armil- 
lary  sphere  of  Vopel,  composed  of  eleven  brass  rings  repre- 
senting the  equator,  the  ecliptic,  the  tropics,  the  polar  circles, 
etc.,  within  which  is  a  small  terrestrial  globe,  on  the  sur- 
face of  which  is  a  manuscript  world  map.  Quad  refers  to 
this  globe  in  the  following  words:  "Item  ein  Astrolabium 
novum  varium  ac  plenum  das  auff  alle  Landschafften 
(kann)  dirigiert  werden  beide  den  Mathematicis  unnd 
Medicis  sehr  nutz,  in  funffzehen  Stock  und  auff  acht  bogen 

[   114  ] 


Fig.  ^^.  Paris  Wooden  Globe,  1535. 


Second  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

gedruckt,  darunder  auch  ein  kleine  artige  Mappa  Mundi  ins 
runde  gelegt  ist."*^ 

On  the  circle  representing  the  Tropic  of  Cancer  is  en- 
graved the  legend  "Caspar  Vopell  Medebach  hanc  sphaeram 
faciebat  Coloniae  1543."  "Caspar  Vopel  of  Medebach  made 
this  globe  in  Cologne  in  the  year  1543."  On  the  bottom  of 
the  box  in  which  the  globe  is  kept  is  a  modern  label  reading 
"Nocolaus  Copernicus  1543  .  .  .  ty  .  .  .  Brah."  Coper- 
nicus died  in  the  year  designated,  and  Tycho  Brahe  was 
bom  in  the  year  1546.  It  appears,  therefore,  that  this  globe 
once  belonged  to  the  great  Danish  astronomer. 

In  the  Library  of  Congress,  acquired  from  L.  Friedrich- 
sen  of  Hamburg,  is  a  fine  example  of  the  work  of  Vopel.** 
This  armillary  sphere  of  eleven  rings,  encircling  a  terres- 
trial globe  7.2  cm.  in  diameter,  is  mounted  on  a  copper 
base.  On  the  circle  representing  the  Tropic  of  Cancer  is  the 
inscription  "Caspar  Vopel  artiv  profes.  hanc  sphaeram 
faciebat  Coloniae  1543."  "Caspar  Vopel  professor  of  arts 
made  this  globe  in  Cologne  in  the  year  1543,"  while  on  the 
remaining  circles  are  engraved  numerous  cosmographical 
signs  and  names.  The  terrestrial  globe  is  covered  with  a 
manuscript  map  in  colors,  and  bears  the  title  legend  "Nova 
ac  generalis  orbis  descriptio,"  and  the  author  legend  "Caspar 
Vopel  mathe.  faciebat."  Most  of  the  regional  names  on  the 
map  are  in  red,  and  a  red  dot  is  employed  to  indicate  the 
location  of  certain  important  cities,  the  names  in  general 
being  omitted.  The  globe  is  remarkably  well  preserved  (Fig. 

56). 

In  the  collection  of  Jodoco  del  Badia,  state  archivist  of 
Florence,  is  a  Vopel  armillary  sphere  of  the  year  1544.*^ 
The  engraved  inscription  on  the  Tropic  of  Cancer  reads 
"Caspar  Vopel  Me.  Matem.  hanc  sphaeram  faciebat  colo- 
niae 1544."  Within  the  eleven  armillae  is  a  very  small 
wooden  sphere  intended  to  represent  a  terrestrial  globe  of 
wood,  about  3  cm.  in  diameter,  on  which  the  equator  and 

[  115  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

the  tropics  are  represented,  but  no  geographical  details  of 
any  value  appear  because  of  the  small  size  of  the  ball. 

A  Vopel  armillary  sphere,  apparently  like  the  preceding, 
bearing  the  same  date  and  legends,  is  reported  as  belonging 
to  the  city  museum  of  Salzburg/" 

A  somewhat  detailed  description,  by  J.  H,  Graf,  of  a 
Vopel  armillary  sphere  in  the  possession  of  the  Herr  Forstin- 
spector  Frey  of  Bern,  appeared  in  the  year  1894, 
in  the  Jahresbericht  of  the  Geographical  Society  of 
Munich.*^  It  is  composed  of  twelve  instead  of  eleven  armil- 
lae,  and  at  the  common  center  is  a  small  terrestrial  ball. 
The  inscriptions  appearing  on  each  of  the  several  rings  are 
given  by  Graf,  and  the  work  of  Vopel  is  compared  with 
that  of  other  map  makers  of  the  time.  On  circle  3,  for  exam- 
ple, counting  from  the  outermost,  is  a  citation  from  Ovid 
(Amores  I.  6.  59),  "Night,  love,  and  wine  are  not  coun- 
selors of  moderation."  On  circle  5,  which  represents  the 
Tropic  of  Cancer,  is  the  author  and  date  legend,  reading 
"Caspar  Vopellius  Mathe.  Profes.  banc  sphaeram  faciebat 
Coloniae  1545."  On  circle  7  we  read  "Fate  rules  the  world, 
all  stands  secure  according  to  unchangeable  law,  and  the 
long  lapse  of  time  is  marked  by  certain  course."  On  one  of 
the  circles  movable  about  the  pole  of  the  ecliptic  is  the 
inscription  "The  sun,  called  Helios,  moves  through  the  en- 
tire circle  of  the  zodiac  in  365  days  and  about  6  hours." 
Graf  notes  the  striking  similarity  of  this  sphere  to  that  be- 
longing to  the  Old  Nordiske  Museum  of  Copenhagen,  and 
adds  to  his  paper  a  reproduction  of  the  terrestrial  globe  map 
in  plane  projection.*®  The  feature  common  to  all  of  the 
Vopel  maps,  viz.,  the  connection  of  the  New  and  the  Old 
Worlds,  is  particularly  emphasized.  The  name  "America" 
appears  only  on  South  America,  and  rightly  so,  if  at  all,  in 
keeping  with  his  geographical  ideas. 

Giinther  reports  that  there  may  be  found  in  the  Hof-  und 
Staatsbibliothek  of  Munich  (Sig.  Math.  A  41,  fol.),  a  vol- 
ume of  drawings   and  engravings   once   belonging  to   the 

[   116  ] 


Fig.  56.  Vopel  Globe,   1543. 


Second  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

Niirnberg  mathematician,  George  Hartmann.^''  In  this  col- 
lection there  are  two  sets  of  celestial  globe  gores,  the  one 
containing  nine,  originally  ten  parts,  dated  February,  1535, 
the  other  containing  ten  undated  parts.  It  is  thought  by 
Giinther  that  we  have  here,  in  all  probability,  the  earliest 
example  of  engraved  celestial  globe  gores,  a  second  example 
in  date  being  that  by  Vopel  of  1536,  and  referred  to  above. 

In  the  year  1859  Mr.  Buckingham  Smith  obtained  in  the 
city  of  Madrid  an  engraved  copper  globe  of  striking  scien- 
tific value  and  interest.  On  the  death  of  Mr.  Smith  this 
globe,  now  known  as  the  Ulpius  globe  (Fig.  57),  was  pur- 
chased by  Mr.  John  David  Wolf  and  later  was  presented  to 
the  Library  of  the  New  York  Historical  Society,  where  it 
may  now  be  found  among  that  society's  rich  collection  of 
historical  treasures. ^°  It  is  of  large  size,  having  a  diameter 
of  39  cm.,  rests  upon  an  oak  base,  and  measuring  from  the 
bottom  of  the  base  to  the  top  of  the  iron  cross  which  tips 
the  north  polar  axis,  its  entire  height  is  1 1 1  cm.  The  hollow 
hemispheres  of  which  the  ball  is  composed  are  made  to  join 
at  the  line  of  the  equator,  the  parts  being  held  together  by 
iron  pins.  In  addition  to  its  copper  equatorial  circle,  which 
is  neatly  graduated  and  engraved  with  signs  of  the  zodiac, 
it  has  a  meridian  and  an  hour  circle  of  brass.  On  the  surface 
of  the  globe  itself  the  principal  parallels  are  drawn,  and 
meridians  at  intervals  of  thirty  degrees,  the  line  of  the  eclip- 
tic being  very  prominent,  and  the  boundary  line  proposed 
by  Pope  Alexander  VI,  marking  a  terminus  for  the  claims 
of  Spain  and  Portugal  to  newly  discovered  regions,  is  strik- 
ingly conspicuous,  with  its  legend  reaching  from  pole  to 
pole,  "Terminus  Hispanis  et  Lusitanis  ab  Alexandro  VI 
P.  M.  assignatus.""  "Limit  to  Spain  and  Portugal  set  by 
Pope  Alexander  VI." 

That  a  globe  of  such  large  dimensions,  and  of  date  so 
early,  should  come  down  to  our  day  scarcely  injured  in  the 
slightest  degree,  is  a  source  of  much  delight  to  students  of 
early  cartography  and  of  early  discovery  and  exploration. 

[  117  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

In  a  neat  cartouch  we  read  the  following  inscription: 
"Regiones  orbis  terrae  quae  aut  aveterib  traditae  aut 
nostra  patruq  memoria  compertae  sint.  Euphrosynus  Ul- 
pius  describebat  anno  salutis  M.D.XLII."  "Regions  of  the 
terrestrial  globe  which  are  handed  down  by  the  ancients  or 
have  been  discovered  in  our  memory  or  that  of  our  fathers. 
Delineated  by  Euphrosynus  Ulpius  in  the  year  of  salvation 
1542."  The  work  is  dedicated  to  "Marcello  Cervino  S.  R.  E. 
Presbitero  Cardinali  D.  D.  Rome,"  "Marcellus  Cervino, 
Cardinal  Presbyter  and  Doctor  of  Divinity  of  the  Holy 
Roman  Church,  Rome,"^^  the  dedication  being  inscribed  in 
a  cartouch  ornamented  with  wheat  or  barley  heads,  a  device 
to  be  found  in  the  coat  of  arms  of  the  Cervino  family,  and 
with  the  deer  which  may  be  taken  as  an  allusion  to  the 
name. 

Not  the  least  interesting  feature  of  its  geographical  record 
in  the  New  World  is  that  wherein  testimony  is  given  to  the 
voyage  of  Verrazano  in  the  year  1524.  The  outline  of  the 
North  American  continent  is  strikingly  like  that  given  in 
the  Verrazano  map  of  1529  (Fig.  58),  showing  an  isthmus 
in  the  vicinity  of  Chesapeake  Bay,  beyond  which  stretches  a 
great  unnamed  sea  to  the  west,  called  in  some  of  the  early 
maps  the  Sea  of  Verrazano.  Ulpius  attests  the  discovery  in 
the  following  legend,  "Verrazana  sive  Nova  Gallia  a  Ver- 
razano Florentino  comperta  anno  Sal.  M.D."  "Verrazana 
or  New  France  discovered  by  Verrazano  a  Florentine  in 
the  year  of  salvation  1500."  The  date  in  this  legend  is  taken 
to  be  an  incomplete  rather  than  an  erroneous  record,  the 
correct  date  being  obtainable  from  the  following  legend 
appearing  on  the  map  of  Hieronimus  Verrazano,  brother  of 
the  explorer,  "Verrazana  sive  nova  gallia  quale  discopri  5 
anni  fa  giovanni  di  verrazano  fiorentino  per  ordine  et  com- 
mandamento  del  Christianissimo  re  di  francia."  "Verrazana 
or  New  France  discovered  five  years  since  by  Giovanni  Ver- 
razano a  Florentine  by  order  and  command  of  the  Most 
Christian  King  of  France. "^^  Ulpius  must  have  made  use  of 

[  118  ] 


Fig.  57.  Terrestrial  Globe  of  Euphrosynus  Ulpius,  1541. 


Second  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

this  Verrazano  map  in  drawing  the  outline  of  North  Amer- 
ica, though  he  did  not  copy  slavishly,  as  we  find  that  he 
greatly  improved  on  that  map  in  the  trend  he  has  given  the 
Atlantic  coast  line  of  North  America,  and  in  the  numerous 
details  he  has  inscribed.  In  very  many  of  the  Atlantic  coast 
names,  however,  there  is  a  practical  agreement  between 
those  on  the  globe  and  those  on  the  map. 


Fig.  58.  Western  Hemisphere  of  Ulpius  Globe,  1541. 

To  the  continent  of  South  America  is  given  both  the  name 
"America"  and  "Mundus  Novus,"  while  numerous  provin- 
cial names  appear,  as  "Peru,"  "Bresilia,"  "Terra  de  giganti." 
The  land  areas  of  both  the  New  and  the  Old  World  are 
liberally  ornamented  with  representations  of  the  local  ani- 
mal life,  the  traditional  belief  in  the  existence  of  cannibals 
in  Mundus  Novus  being  especially  prominent.  The  oceans 
are  made  to  abound  in  sea  monsters,  and  vessels  sail  hither 

[  119  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

and  thither  over  the  courses  then  followed  by  navigators. 
Though  South  America  has  the  entire  coast  line  represented, 
that  section  stretching  southward  from  Peru  is  marked  as 
"terra  incognita."  Separated  from  the  mainland  by  the 
Strait  of  Magellan,  marked  by  the  legend,  "initium  freti 
magellanici,"  is  an  extensive  land  area,  that  part  lying  to 
the  southwest  of  the  strait  being  called  "Regio  Patalis," 
that  to  the  southeast  as  "Terra  Australis  adhuc  incomperta," 
while  from  this  particular  region  there  stretches  away  to  the 
east,  as  far  as  the  meridian  passing  through  the  southern 
point  of  Africa,  a  peninsula  across  which  is  the  legend  "Lusi- 
tani  ultra  promotorium  bone  spei  i  Calicutium  tendentes 
hanc  terra  viderut,  veru  non  accesserunt,  quamobrem  neq 
nos  certi  quidq3  afferre  potuimus,"  "The  Portuguese  sailing 
beyond  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  to  Calicut,  saw  this  land 
but  did  not  reach  it,  wherefore  neither  have  we  been  able 
to  assert  anything  with  certainty  concerning  it." 

In  the  main  Ptolemy  served  as  a  source  of  information 
for  the  regions  of  the  East,  although  much  of  the  informa- 
tion which  the  earlier  years  of  the  century  had  contributed 
to  a  knowledge  of  that  far-away  country  is  recorded. 

The  large  size  of  the  globe  gave  opportunity  for  the 
inscription  of  numerous  geographical  details,  and  of  this 
opportunity  the  engraver  fully  availed  himself.  It  may  well 
be  referred  to  as  one  of  the  most  interesting  of  the  early 
globes,  and  its  map  records  as  possessing  great  scientific 
value. 

Tiraboschi  alludes  to  a  globe  possessed  by  Cardinal  Pietro 
Bembo  (1470-1547),  citing  a  letter  written  by  Giacomo 
Faletti  at  Venice,  June  3,  1561,  to  Alfonso  II  D'Este  of  Fer- 
rara,  in  which  mention  is  made  of  the  same.  "I  have  bought," 
says  Faletti,  "the  globe  of  Cardinal  Bembo  for  fifteen  scudi 
which  is  the  price  of  the  metal  composing  it,  and  I  have  given 
it  out  to  be  decorated  hoping  to  make  of  it  the  most  beau- 
tiful globe  which  is  possessed  by  any  Prince  in  the  world.  It 
will  cost  altogether  25  scudi."''*  This  globe  must  have  been 

[  120  1 


Second  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

made  before  the  year  1547,  in  which  year  occurred  the  death 
of  the  cardinal,  Fiorini  expresses  the  opinion  that  it  probably 
was  owned  by  him  while  making  his  residence  at  Padua, 
when,  free  from  care,  he  was  giving  himself  to  study  and  to 
the  collection  of  scientific  and  artistic  objects.^^ 

One  of  Spain's  distinguished  chart  makers  of  the  middle 
of  the  sixteenth  century  was  Alonso  de  Santa  Cruz  ( 1 500- 
1572).^®  Although  but  few  of  his  cartographical  productions 
are  known,  there  is  to  be  found  in  the  survivals  abundant 
evidence  of  his  marked  ability.  We  learn  concerning  him 
that  by  royal  order  of  July  7,  1 536,  he  was  created  cosmog- 
rapher  of  the  Casa  de  Contratacion  at  a  salary  of  30,000 
maravedis,  that  in  this  capacity  it  was  his  duty  to  examine 
and  pass  upon  sailing  charts,  that  shortly  after  the  above- 
named  date  he  became  Cosmografo  Major,  and  that  some 
time  before  his  death,  which  occurred  in  the  year  1572, 
Philip  II  appointed  him  to  the  office  of  Royal  Historian." 
His  best-known  work  is  his  'Yslario  general  del  mondo,' 
of  which  three  signed  manuscript  copies  are  known,  no  one 
of  which,  however,  appears  to  be  complete.  Two  of  these 
copies  are  to  be  found  in  the  Royal  Library  of  Vienna  f^  the 
third,  now  belonging  to  the  City  Library  of  Besan^on,  was 
at  one  time  in  the  possession  of  Cardinal  Granvella.^^  The 
National  Library  of  Madrid  possesses  a  fine  manuscript 
atlas,  which  has  been  generally  attributed  to  Garcia  Ces- 
pedes,  since  his  name  appears  on  the  frontispiece,  but  which 
now  is  thought  by  those  who  have  most  carefully  examined 
it  to  be  the  work  of  Santa  Cruz.  There  are  evidences  that  it 
has  been  somewhat  altered  in  parts,  which  alterations  may 
have  been  the  work  of  Cespedes.*'° 

In  addition  to  his  'Yslario'  we  still  have  his  remarkable 
map  of  the  city  of  Mexico,  belonging  to  the  University 
Library  of  Upsala,"^  and  one  copy  of  his  world  map  in 
gores  (Fig.  59),  preserved  in  the  Royal  Library  of  Stock- 
holm. It  is  this  last-named  map  which  especially  interests 
us  here.'^^ 

[  121  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

Though  the  form  of  the  map  suggests  that  it  had  been 
the  author's  intention  to  paste  it  on  the  surface  of  a  pre- 
pared sphere,  there  appears  to  be  good  reason  for  thinking 
that  this  particular  copy  was  not  intended  to  serve  him  in 
a  terrestrial  globe  construction.  It  is  surrounded  with  an 
ornamental  border  finely  executed  in  gold  and  white,  and 
stretching  across  the  top  is  a  waving  scroll  in  which  has 
been  written  the  inscription  "Nova  verior  et  Integra  totius 
orbis  descriptio  nunc  primum  in  lucem  edita  per  Alfonsum 
de  Sancta  Cruz  Caesaris  Charoli  V.  archicosmographum. 
A.  D.  M.D.XLII."  "A  very  new  and  complete  description  of 
the  whole  world  now  first  prepared  by  Alfonso  de  Santa 
Cruz  Cosmographer  Major  of  the  Emperor  Charles  V. 
1542."  The  original  map  is  drawn  on  three  connected  sheets 
of  parchment,  as  Dahlgren  states  in  his  excellent  mono- 
graph, the  total  dimensions  of  which  are  79  by  144  cm.  In 
the  lower  corner  on  the  left  is  the  dedication:  "Potentiss. 
Caes.  Carlo  V.  Usi  sumus  et  hie  ad  terrae,  marisque  simul, 
demionstractionem,  sectione  alia,  Augustiss.  Caesar,  per  equi- 
notialem  lineam  Polum  quemque,  dividui  ipsius  globi,  sin- 
gula medietas  obtinens,  depressoque  utroque  in  planum 
Polo,  equinotialem  ipsam  secantes,  rationem  prospectivam 
servavimus,  quemadmodum  et  in  alia,  veluti  solutis  Polls, 
itidem  in  planum  discisis  meridianis  propalavimus,  neque 
pretermissis  hie  longitudinum  latitudinumque  graduum 
parallelorum  climatumque  dimensionibus.  Vale."  "O  power- 
ful Caesar  I  we  have,  here  also  in  this  map  of  land  and  sea, 
made  use  of  a  new  division  of  the  globe;  namely,  at  the 
equator,  so  that  each  half  of  the  globe  thus  divided  has  one 
of  the  poles  as  its  center.  By  depressing  the  pole  to  the  plane 
of  the  equator  and  by  making  incisions  from  the  equator 
to  the  pole,  we  have  made  a  projection  similar  to  that  pre- 
sented to  the  public  on  the  other  map  with  detached  poles 
and  with  the  meridians  separated  on  the  same  plane,  with- 
out disregarding  the  correct  dimensions  of  the  longitude, 
latitudes,  degrees,  parallels,  and  climates.  Farewell." 

[  122  ] 


?>ss^j3gj;! 


N 
3 
;-< 

C! 

o 

in 
C 

o 


o 
a, 


(V 

o 


Second  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

The  map  represents  the  world  in  two  hemispheres,  a 
northern  and  a  southern,  each  drawn  on  thirty-six  half  gores 
or  sectors.  The  following  appears  to  have  been  the  method 
of  construction.  With  the  poles  as  centers,  and  with  a  radius 
equal  to  one  fourth  of  the  length  of  a  meridian  circle  of 
the  globe  he  drew  his  large  circle  or  circles  representing  the 
equator  and  fonning  the  bases  of  each  of  the  half  gores. 
Each  of  the  large  or  equatorial  circles  he  divided  into  thirty- 
six  equal  arcs,  and  from  the  points  establishing  such  divi- 
sions he  drew  a  meridian  line  extending  in  each  hemisphere 
to  the  pole  or  center  of  his  circle.  These  meridian  lines  were 
graduated  and  lines  or  arcs  representing  parallels  of  latitude 
were  drawn  intersecting  them  at  intervals  of  ten  degrees, 
having  the  pole  as  the  common  center  in  each  hemisphere. 
Marking  off  on  each  of  these  parallels  or  arcs  both  to  right 
and  left  a  distance  representing  five  degrees  of  the  earth's 
longitude,  he  thus  established  the  points  through  which  to 
draw  his  meridians  which  marked  the  boundaries  of  each 
sector,  leaving  between  the  sectors  equal  spaces  to  be  cut 
away  should  the  sectors  be  used  for  pasting  on  the  surface 
of  a  sphere.  Every  fifth  meridian  and  every  tenth  parallel 
is  drawn  in  black;  the  equator,  the  tropics,  the  polar  circles, 
and  the  prime  meridian  are  gilded.  The  prime  meridian  runs 
somewhat  to  the  west  of  the  Island  of  Fayal.  At  longitude 
20  degrees  west  is  the  papal  line  of  demarcation  which  is 
called  "Meridianus  particionis,"  crossing  South  America 
south  of  the  mouth  of  the  Amazon.  On  the  one  side  of  this 
line  in  the  southern  hemisphere  appears  the  flag  of  Spain, 
on  the  other  that  of  Portugal,  thus  designating  specifically 
the  "Hemisperium  Regis  Castelle,"  and  the  "Hemisperium 
Regis  Portugalie."  California  is  referred  to  as  "y^  q  descubrio 
el  marq's  del  valle,"  "island  discovered  by  the  Marquis  del 
Valle,"  and  the  coast  north  of  this  point  is  called  "tefa  q 
cnbioC?)  a  descubrio  de  ant*^  d'  medoca,"  "land  to  discover 
which  Don  Antonio  de  Mendoza  sent  out  an  expedition." 
In  drawing  the  outlines  of  his  continents  he  seems  to  have 

[  123  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

made  use  of  the  best  available  sources.  The  New  World 
follows  the  Sevillan  type,  as  represented  in  the  Ribeiro 
maps,  particularly  the  eastern  or  Atlantic  coast  regions, 
including,  though  in  somewhat  abbreviated  form,  the  ref- 
erences to  Gomez,  Ayllon,  and  Narvaez.  There  is  no  distinct 
coast  line  north  of  California,  which  line  follows  the  merid- 
ian of  105  degrees  as  far  north  as  the  Arctic  circle,  hence 
there  is  no  positive  representation  of  an  Asiatic  connection, 
but  rather  the  indication  of  a  doubt,  as  was  indicated  on 
maps  of  the  type. 

If  Santa  Cruz  intended  his  peculiar  gores  to  serve  in  the 
construction  of  a  terrestrial  globe,  we  cannot  find  that  he 
impressed  his  method  on  the  globe  makers  of  the  period.  We 
seem  to  have  but  one  striking  imitation  of  his  work,  viz.,  in 
the  gore  map  of  Florianas,  to  which  reference  is  made 
below.'^ 

To  that  striking  feature  of  many  of  the  globe  maps  of 
the  second  quarter  of  the  sixteenth  century,  in  which  an 
Asiatic  connection  of  the  New  World  is  represented,  atten- 
tion has  been  called  in  the  preceding  pages;  there  likewise 
has  been  noted  the  fact  that  not  a  few  of  the  map  makers 
of  the  period  expressed  a  certain  degree  of  doubt  as  to 
whether  the  prevailing  idea  of  the  first  quarter  of  the  cen- 
tury (that  the  lands  discovered  in  the  west  constituted  a 
veritable  New  World)  should  be  given  over,  preferring  to 
omit  altogether  the  west  and  northwest  coast  line  of  North 
America,  or  to  make  very  indefinite  allusion  to  the  geography 
of  the  region. 

We  now  come  to  the  consideration  of  a  map  and  globe 
maker  who  carries  us  back  to  the  geographical  notion  of 
the  earlier  years  of  the  century,  namely,  to  the  idea  that  the 
New  World  was  nothing  less  than  an  independent  continent. 
The  activities  of  Gerhard  Mercator  (1512-1594)  (Fig.  60) 
were  epoch  making,  and  a  reference  to  him  more  detailed 
than  has  been  accorded  his  predecessors  is  fitting."*  He  was  a 
native  of  Rupelmunde,  a  small  town  situated  in  the  Pays 

[  124  ] 


2 

O 

X 


3 

O 

-a 

o 

'-2 


o 


-a 

o 

o 


rt 


O 


o 

o 

to 


Second  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

de  Waes  in  East  Flanders,  not  far  from  the  city  of  Ant- 
werp. His  parents  died  while  he  was  still  a  mere  lad,  but  in 
a  great-uncle  he  found  a  faithful  guardian  and  a  generous 
benefactor,  who  took  care  that  his  education  should  be  the 
best  that  was  afforded  by  the  schools  of  the  Netherlands. 
In  1527,  at  the  age  of  fifteen,  he  entered  the  College  of 
Bois-le-Duc  in  Brabant,  where  he  studied  for  three  and  one 
half  years,  and  in  1530  he  was  matriculated  as  a  student 
in  the  University  of  Louvain,  famous  throughout  Europe 
at  that  early  date  as  a  center  of  learning.^^  During  his  uni- 
versity career  he  appears  to  have  given  much  thought  to 
the  problems  of  science,  including  the  "origin,  nature,  and 
destiny"  of  the  physical  universe.  While  these  studies  did 
not  bear  directly  upon  that  branch  of  science  in  which  he 
was  to  win  for  himself  such  marked  distinction  in  later 
years,  they  indicate  the  early  existence  of  a  desire  for  knowl- 
edge scientific  rather  than  for  knowledge  theological,  not- 
withstanding the  fact  that  his  guardian  and  patron  was  an 
ecclesiastic. 

In  Gemma  Frisius,  an  eminent  professor  of  mathematics 
in  the  University  of  Louvain,  and  at  one  time  a  pupil  of 
Apianus,  he  appears,  as  before  noted,  to  have  found  a  sym- 
pathetic friend  and  counselor.®*'  It  probably  was  Frisius 
who  suggested  a  career  for  the  young  scientist,  since  we  find 
him,  shortly  after  graduation,  turning  his  attention  to  the 
manufacture  of  mathematical  instruments,  to  the  drawing, 
engraving,  and  coloring  of  maps  and  charts,  wherein  he 
found  a  vocation  for  the  remainder  of  his  life.  In  1537  his 
first  publication,  a  map  of  Palestine,  appeared,  to  which  he 
gave  the  title  "Amplissima  Terrae  Sanctae  descriptio."" 
Immediately  thereafter,  at  the  instance  of  a  certain  Flemish 
merchant,  he  undertook  the  preparation  of  a  map  of  Flan- 
ders, making  for  the  same  extensive  original  surveys.  This 
map  was  issued  in  the  year  1540.*^*  Mercator's  first  published 
map  of  the  world  bears  the  date  1538.  This  map  was 
drawn  in  the  double  cordiform  projection  which  seems  first 

[  125  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

to  have  been  employed  by  Orontius  Finaeus  in  his  world 
map  of  1531."'*  In  this  map  Mercator  departed  from  the 
geographical  notions  generally  entertained  at  this  particular 
period  which  made  America  an  extension  of  Asia.  He  repre- 
sented the  continent  of  Asia  separated  from  the  continent 
of  America  by  a  narrow  sea,  an  idea  which  increased  in 
favor  with  geographers  and  cartographers  long  before  actual 
discovery  proved  this  to  be  a  fact.  This  map  is  one  to  which 
great  importance  attaches,  but  it  is  not  the  first  world  map 
on  which  there  was  an  attempt  to  fasten  the  name  America 
upon  both  the  northern  and  the  southern  continents  of  the 
New  World,  although  it  frequently  has  been  referred  to  as 
such ;  this  honor,  so  far  as  we  at  present  know,  belongs  to  a 
globe  map  referred  to  and  briefly  described  above, '°  His 
large  map  of  Europe,  the  draughting  of  which  appears  to 
have  claimed  much  of  his  time  for  a  number  of  years,  was 
published  in  the  year  1554,  and  contributed  greatly  to  his 
fame  as  a  cartographer,^^  In  1564  appeared  his  large  map 
of  England,'"  and  in  the  same  year  his  map  of  Lorraine 
based  upon  his  own  original  surveys."  In  the  year  1569  a 
master  work  was  issued,  this  being  his  nautical  chart,  "ad 
usum  navigantium,"  as  he  said  of  it,  based  upon  a  new  pro- 
jection which  he  had  invented,'^  It  is  the  original  chart 
setting  forth  the  Mercator  projection  which  is  now  so  ex- 
tensively employed  in  map  making.  In  the  year  1578  he 
issued  his  revised  edition  of  the  so-called  Ptolemy  maps,  and 
eight  years  later  these  same  maps  again,  revised  with  the 
complete  text  of  Ptolemy's  work  on  geography.  Mercator 
expressly  stated  it  to  be  his  purpose,  in  this  last  work,  not 
to  revise  the  text  in  order  to  make  it  conform  to  the  most 
recent  discoveries  and  geographical  ideas,  but  the  rather 
to  have  a  text  conforming,  as  nearly  as  possible,  to  Ptolemy's 
original  work.  This  edition  still  ranks  as  one  of  the  best 
which  has  ever  been  issued.  His  great  work,  usually  referred 
to  as  his  'Atlas  of  Modern  Geography,'  the  first  part  of 
which  appeared  in  1585,  and  a  second  part  in  1590,  was 

[  126  ] 


Second  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

not  completed  during  his  hfetime,  though  but  four  months 
after  his  death,  in  the  year  1594,  Rumold  Mercator  pub- 
Hshed  his  father's  collection  of  maps,  adding  a  third  part 
to  those  which  previously  had  been  issued.  It  was  this  publi- 
cation which  bore  the  title  'Atlas  sive  cosmographicae  medi- 
tationes  de  fabrica  mundi  et  fabricati  figura.'  Apparently 
for  the  first  time  the  term  "atlas"  had  here  been  employed 
for  a  collection  of  maps,  a  term  which  we  know  had  its 
origin  with  Gerhard  Mercator  himself.  A  reference  to  his 
general  cartographical  work  more  detailed  than  the  above 
cannot  here  find  place.  It  is  his  globes  which  call  for  special 
consideration. 

There  is  reason  for  thinking  it  was  Nicolas  Perrenot,  father 
of  Cardinal  Granvella,  who  suggested  to  Mercator  the  con- 
struction of  a  globe;  it  at  least  was  to  this  great  Prime  Min- 
ister of  the  Emperor  Charles  V  that  he  dedicated  his  first 
work  of  this  character,  a  terrestrial  globe  dated  1541.^''  That 
Mercator  had  constructed  such  a  globe  had  long  been  known 
through  a  reference  in  Ghymmius'  biography,  yet  it  had  been 
thought,  until  1868,  that  none  of  the  copies  of  this  work 
had  come  down  to  us.  In  that  year  there  was  offered  for 
sale,  in  the  city  of  Ghent,  the  library  of  M.  Benoni-Verelst 
and  among  its  treasures  was  a  copy  of  Mercator' s  engraved 
globe  gores  of  the  year  1541,  which  were  acquired  by  the 
Royal  Library  of  Brussels,  where  they  may  still  be  found. 
Soon  thereafter  other  copies  of  these  gores,  mounted  and 
unmounted,  came  to  light  in  Paris,  in  Vienna,  in  Weimar, 
in  Niirnberg,  and  later  yet  other  copies  in  Italy,  until  at 
present  no  less  than  twelve  copies  are  known. 

These  gores  were  constructed  to  cover  a  sphere  41  cm.  in 
diameter,  and  the  map  represents  the  entire  world,  with  its 
seas,  its  continents,  and  its  islands.  The  names  of  the  various 
regions  of  the  earth,  of  the  several  empires,  and  of  the 
oceans  are  inscribed  in  Roman  capital  letters;  the  names  of 
the  kingdoms,  of  the  provinces,  of  the  rivers,  are  inscribed 
in  cursive  Italic  letters,  while  for  the  names  of  the  several 

[  127  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

peoples  he  employed  a  different  form  of  letter.  The  gores, 
twelve  in  number,  were  engraved  and  printed  in  groups  of 
threes  (Fig.  6l),  each  gore  having  an  equatorial  diameter 
of  thirty  degrees.  Mercator  worked  out  mathematically  the 
problem  dealing  with  the  proper  relation  of  the  length  of 
each  of  the  gores  to  its  width,  or  of  its  longer  diameter  to  its 
shorter,  in  his  endeavor  to  devise  a  map  as  nearly  perfect  as 
possible  in  shape  for  covering  a  ball,  knowing  full  well  the 
difficulty  of  fitting  a  fiat  surface  to  one  that  is  curved.  Each 
of  the  gores  he  truncated  twenty  degrees  from  the  poles,  and 
for  the  polar  areas  he  prepared  a  circular  section  drawn 
according  to  the  rule  applicable  to  an  equidistant  polar 
projection.  It  appears,  as  before  noted,  that  he  was  the  first 
to  apply  this  method  in  globe  construction. 

The  ecliptic,  the  tropics,  and  the  polar  circles  are  repre- 
sented at  their  proper  intervals,  with  other  parallels  at  inter- 
vals of  ten  degrees,  and  meridians  at  intervals  of  fifteen 
degrees.  As  in  his  double  cordiform  map  of  1538,  his  prime 
meridian  passes  through  the  island  of  "Forte  Ventura,"  one 
of  the  Fortunate  Islands  of  the  ancients,  but  which  had 
long  been  known  as  the  Canary  Islands.  To  his  globe  map 
he  added  a  feature  of  special  value  to  seamen.  From  the 
numerous  compass  or  wind  roses,  distributed  with  some 
regularity  over  its  surface,  he  drew  loxodromic  lines,  or 
curved  lines  cutting  the  meridians  at  equal  angles.^*'  This 
feature  could  not  have  failed  to  win  the  approval  of  navi- 
gators, since  they  well  knew  that  the  previous  attempts  to 
represent  these  rhumbs  as  straight  lines  on  maps  drawn  on 
a  cylindrical  projection,  led  to  numerous  errors  in  naviga- 
tion. A  second  somewhat  curious  and  interesting  feature  of 
his  globe,  a  feature  which  I  do  not  recall  to  have  noticed  in 
any  other,  is  the  representation  in  various  localities  on  land 
and  on  sea  of  certain  stars,  his  idea  being  that  he  could  thus 
assist  the  traveler  to  orient  himself  at  night.  In  his  list  of 
stars  on  his  globe  map,  we  find,  for  example,  "Sinister 
humerus  Bootes"  near  latitude  40  degrees  north,  longitude 

[  128  ] 


irS\ 


,^r--f.'^. 


■m 


t 


"Kr 


O 

o 

o 

o 


-^ 
*>-> 


in     O 
I-      o 


I 


Second  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

210  degrees;  "Corona  septentrionalis"  near  latitude  29  de- 
grees north,  longitude  227  degrees;  "Cauda  Cygni"  near 
latitude  44  degrees  north,  longitude  305  degrees ;  "Humerus 
Pegasus"  near  latitude  12  degrees  north,  longitude  340  de- 
grees; "Crus  Pegasi"  near  latitude  26  degrees  north,  longi- 
tude 339  degrees;  six  of  the  important  stars  in  "Ursa 
Major,"  including  "Stella  Polaris,"  and  in  the  present 
California,    somewhat    strangely    prophetic.    "Caput    Dra- 


conis." 


On  the  ninth  gore,  counting  from  the  prime  meridian 
eastward,  is  a  legend  giving  the  author's  name,  the  date  of 
issue,  and  a  reference  to  the  publication  privilege,  reading 
"Edebat  Gerardus  Mercator  Rupelmundanus  cum  privilegio 
Ces  Maiestatis  ad  an  sex  Lovanii  an  1541."  "Published  by 
Gerard  Mercator  of  Rupelmunde  under  the  patent  of  His 
Imperial  Majesty  for  six  years  at  Louvain  in  the  year 
1941."  In  a  corresponding  position  on  the  seventh  gore  is 
the  dedication  "Illustris:  Dn5  Nicolao  Perrenoto  Domino  a 
Granvella  Sac.  Caesaree  Ma^^  a  consiliis  primo  dedecatu." 
"Dedicated  to  the  very  distinguished  Seigneur  Nicholas  Per- 
renot.  Seigneur  de  Granvella;  first  counselor  of  His  Im- 
perial Majesty,"  over  which  is  the  coat  of  arms  of  the  Prime 
Minister.  On  gore  six  we  read  "Ubi  &  quibus  argumentis 
Lector  ab  aliorum  descriverimus  editione  libellus  noster 
indicabit."  "Reader,  where  and  in  what  subjects  we  have 
copied  from  the  publications  of  other  men  will  be  pointed 
out  in  our  booklet,"  in  which  there  appears  to  be  a  reference 
to  an  intended  publication  wherein  his  globe  v/as  to  be 
described  and  its  uses  indicated.  No  such  work  by  Mercator 
is  known  to  exist,  although  we  find  that  in  the  year  1 552  he 
issued  a  small  pamphlet  bearing  the  title  'Declaratio  insig- 
niorum  utilitatum  quae  sunt  in  globo  terrestri,  caelesti  et 
anulo  astronomico.  Ad  invictissimum  Romanum  Imperatorus 
Carolum  Quintum.'  'A  presentation  of  the  particular  advan- 
tages  of  the   terrestrial,   celestial,    and   armillan,-   spheres. 

[   129  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

Dedicated    to    the    invincible    Roman    Emperor    Charles 
Fifth.'" 

He  tells  us  in  one  of  his  legends  how  to  find  the  distance 
between   two  places  represented  on   the   globe,   observing, 
"Si   quorum   voles   locoru   distantia   cognoscere  .   ,   .  tras- 
ferto,  hie  tibi,  q  libet  particula  Ttercepta  miliaria  referet, 
Hisp:  18,  Gal:  20,  Germ:  15,  Milia  pass;  60,  Stadia  500," 
from  which  it  appears  that  he  gives  as  the  value  of  an 
equatorial  degree  60  Italian  miles  or  500  stadia,  equiva- 
lent to  18  Spanish  miles,  to  20  French  miles,  and  to  15 
Gemian  miles.  Finding  numerous  errors  in  Ptolemy's  geog- 
raphy of  the  Old  World,  he  tells  us  that  he  undertook  to 
correct  these  errors  from  the  accounts  of  Marco  Polo,  whom 
he  calls  "M.  Paulo  Veneto,"  and  from  the  accounts  of  Var- 
tema,  whom  he  calls  "Ludovico,  Rom  Patricii."  Between 
parallels  50  degrees  and  60  degrees   south  latitude   and 
meridians  60  degrees  and  70  degrees  east  longitude  is  the 
inscription   "Psitacorum  regio  a  Lusitanis   anno   1500  ad 
millia  passum  bis  mille  praetervectis,  sic  appellata  quod 
psitacos  elat  inaudite  magnitudinis,  ut  qui  ternos  cubitos 
aequent  longitudine."  "Region  of  parrots  discovered  by  the 
Portuguese  in  1500  who  sailed  along  2000  miles;  so  called 
because  it  has  parrots  of  unheard-of  size,  measuring  three 
cubits  in  length."  America,  he  notes,  is  called  New  India, 
"America  a  multis  hodie  Nona  India  dicta."  In  the  Antarctic 
region  an  inscription  tells  of  the  notion  entertained  b)^  many 
geographers  of  his  day  and  by  some  in  an  earlier  day,  that 
in  addition  to  the  four  known  parts  of  the  world,  Europe, 
Asia,  Africa,  and  America,  there  is  here  a  fifth  part  of  large 
size  stretching  for  a  number  of  degrees  from  the  pole,  which 
region  is  called  "terra  Australe."  Mercator  undertook,  in 
Chapter  X  of  his  'Atlas,'  to  demonstrate  that  a  large  Ant- 
arctic continent  must  of  necessity  exist  as  a  balance  to  the 
weight  of  the  other  four  continents  or  parts  of  the  world 
lying  in  the  northern  hemisphere.^* 

In  1551  he  issued  his  copper  engraved  gores  for  a  celes- 

[  130  ] 


Second  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

tial  globe,  dedicating  tlie  same  to  Prince  George  of  Austria, 
natural  son  of  the  Emperor  Maximilian,  who  was  Bishop 
of  Brixen,  Archbishop  of  Valencia,  and  Bishop  of  Liege  in 
the  year  1544.  A  set  of  these  gores  was  likewise  acquired 
by  the  Royal  Library  of  Brussels  at  the  same  time  it  acquired 
the  terrestrial  globe  gores  referred  to  above/'^  The  dedica- 
tion reads  "Ampliss:  Preculi  Principiq3  111™°  Georgio  ab 
Austria  Dei  dispositione  Episcopo  Leodiensi,  Duci  Bul- 
lonensi,  Marchioni  Francimotensi,  Comiti  Lossensi  Sc"^  mecae 
nati  optime  merito  dd.  Gerardus  Mercator  Rupelmundanus." 
"To  the  Magnificent  Protector  and  Prince,  the  very  dis- 
tinguished George  of  Austria,  by  the  Grace  of  God,  Bishop 
of  Liege,  Duke  of  Bouillon,  Marquis  of  Francimontensi, 
Count  of  Lossensi,  the  verv^  splendid  patron  of  arts  and 
science,  dedicated  by  Gerard  Mercator  of  Rupelmunde." 
Near  the  above  inscription  we  find  the  date  and  place  of 
issue  given  as  follows,  "Lovanii  anno  Domini  1551  mense 
Aprili,"  and  a  reference  to  his  privilege  "Inhibitum  est  ne 
quis  hoc  opus  imitetur,  aut  alibi  factum  vendat,  intra  fines 
Imperii,  vel  provinciarum  inferiorum  Caes:  Mtis  an:  te 
decennium,  sub  poenis  &  mulctis  in  diplomatibus  cotentis. 
Oberburger  &  Soete  subscrib."  "All  persons  are  forbidden 
to  reproduce  this  work  or  to  sell  it  when  made  elsewhere 
within  the  Empire  or  the  Low  Countries  of  His  Imperial 
Majesty  until  after  ten  years,  under  the  penalties  and  fines 
prescribed  in  the  patent.  Signed  by  Oberburger  and  Soete." 
It  clearly  was  the  intention  that  this  should  serve  as  the  com- 
panion of  his  terrestrial  globe  of  1541,  described  above,  since 
the  gores  are  of  the  same  size,  each  of  the  twelve  being 
truncated  in  the  same  manner,  and  the  circular  section  being 
prepared  for  the  polar  areas.  Mercator's  merits  as  an  astron- 
omer by  no  means  equaled  his  merits  as  a  geographer. 
However,  his  celestial  globe,  by  reason  of  the  exactness  of 
the  composition,  by  reason  of  its  simplicity,  and  by  reason 
of  the  artistic  skill  exhibited  in  the  workmanship,  is  a  most 
worthy  work  of  that  great  scientist.  On  this  globe  are  repre- 

[  131  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

sented  the  forty-eight  constellations  of  Ptolemy,  to  which 
have  been  added  three  which  he  calls  Antinous,  Lepus 
and  Cincinnus,  the  first  formed  of  six  stars  and  located 
on  the  equator  below  the  constellation  Aquila,  the  second 
in  the  southern  hemisphere  under  the  feet  of  Orion,  and 
the  third  in  the  northern  hemisphere  near  the  tail  of  Ursa 
Major.*"  His  constellations,  as  well  as  the  principal  stars 
in  the  same,  have,  in  the  majority  of  instances,  Greek,  Latin, 
and  Arabic  names.  It  does  not  appear  that  Mercator  felt 
himself  bound  to  a  strictly  scientific  representation  and 
interpretation  of  the  celestial  bodies,  for  he  pays  more  or 
less  homage  to  astrology,  inscribing  on  the  horizon  circle 
of  his  globe  the  horoscope  as  used  b)^  astrologists  in  calcu- 
lating nativities,  perhaps  recognizing,  from  a  business  stand- 
point, the  advantage  of  an  appeal  to  certain  superstitions 
which  he  found  still  lingering  among  both  the  learned  and 
the  unlearned. 

By  reason  of  their  size  and  the  great  care  with  which 
they  had  been  prepared,  his  globes  must  have  found  general 
favor,  not  only  with  those  of  rank  and  distinction,  for  whom 
copies  de  luxe  were  issued,  but  with  geographers  and  scholars 
in  general,  who  found  it  possible  to  obtain  at  a  compara- 
tively small  price  the  more  modest  copies.  That  they  found 
favor  in  Germany  is  assured  us  by  Mercator's  correspond- 
ence with  Camerarius  of  Niirnberg,  in  which  mention  is 
made  of  the  sale  of  six  pairs  of  his  globes  in  that  cit}^  and 
of  others  at  the  Frankfort  book  market.^^  Thomas  Blunde- 
ville  tells  us  in  his  'Exercises'  that  Mercator's  globes  were 
in  common  use  in  England  until  1592,*"  and  the  number 
of  his  globes  which  have  become  known  since  1868  in  vari- 
ous parts  of  Europe  assure  us  that  copies  of  that  master's 
work  must  have  been  easily  obtainable  by  those  interested. 
Ruscelli,  in  referring  to  printed  spheres,  notes  that  they 
usually  were  made  small,  and  that  those  of  large  size  are  not 
exact,  but  he  adds  that  he  had  seen  some  that  were  three 
and  one  half  palms  in  diameter,  such  as  that  which  years 

[  132  ] 


Second  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

ago  Aurelio  Porcelaga  sent  to  him  to  examine,  printed  in 
Germany,  and  given  to  him  by  Monseigneur  Granvella,  to 
whom  or  to  whose  father,  not  recalling  which,  it  had  been 
dedicated,  but  which  he  remembered  was  ver}'  beautiful  and 
very  exact,  being  evidently  engraved  by  one  ver}-  expert, 
judged  by  the  beauty  of  the  design  and  the  artistic  quality  of 
the  letters.®^  Fiorini  is  of  the  opinion  that  these  globes  were 
Mercator's,  and  that  thev  were  carried  into  Itah-  in  the  late 
years  of  the  sixteenth  centun,'  when  a  friendly  relationship 
existed  between  certain  Italian  princes  and  the  Spanish 
authorities  then  ruling  in  Flanders.*^ 

Attention  has  been  called  above  to  the  acquisition  by  the 
Royal  Library  of  Brussels  of  a  copy  each  of  the  terrestrial 
and  the  celestial  globe  gores,  and  that  the  discovery  of  the 
same  having  created  an  especial  interest  in  his  work,  other 
examples  were  soon  brought  to  light  in  Italy,  in  Spain,  in 
France,  in  Germany,  and  in  Austria.  A  pair  may  be  found 
in  the  Museum  Astronomique  of  Paris,  a  pair  in  the  Royal 
Library  of  Vienna,  a  pair  in  the  Germanisches  National 
Museum  in  Niirnberg,  a  pair  in  the  archives  of  the  town  of 
St.  Nicholas  de  Waes,  a  copy  of  the  terrestrial  globe  in 
the  Grand  Ducal  Librarv*  of  Weimar,  a  copy  of  the  celes- 
tial in  the  Convent  of  Adamont,  Istria,  and  a  copy  of  the 
terrestrial  in  the  Convent  of  Stams,  Tyrol.  Dr.  Buonanno, 
director  of  the  Biblioteca  Govemativa  of  Cremona,  in  1890 
briefly  described  a  pair  of  Mercator's  globes  belonging  to 
that  library,  and  what  he  was  able  to  learn  as  a  result  of 
their  damaged  condition  of  Mercator's  method  of  construc- 
tion is  not  without  interest.  He  found  that  over  a  frame- 
work composed  of  thin,  narrow  strips  of  wood  had  been 
pasted  first  a  cloth  covering,  over  this  a  thin  layer  of  plaster 
and  that  to  this  was  added  a  covering  of  a  pastelike  sub- 
stance about  six  or  seven  millimeters  in  thickness,  consist- 
ing of  plaster,  wood  fiber,  or  sawdust,  and  glue.  On  this 
prepared  surface  had  then  been  pasted  the  engraved  gores. 
The  learned  librarian's  conjecture  as  to  the  manner  in  which 

[  133  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

these  globes  found  their  way  into  Italy,  if  correct,  is  of 
interest,  pointing  as  it  does  to  the  fonxiation  of  a  great  art 
collection  in  that  period.  He  recalls  that  Caesar  Speciano, 
Bishop  of  Cremona,  had  been  sent  in  1592  as  nuncio  to 
Germany,  and  that  he  had  occasion,  during  his  mission,  to 
attend  to  certain  matters  pertaining  to  the  inheritance  of 
William,  Duke  of  Cleves,  in  whose  country  there  must  still 
have  existed  the  workshop  of  Mercator.  The  opinion  is  ex- 
pressed that  on  the  return  of  the  Bishop  to  Italy  he  carried 
with  him  many  books  and  art  objects,  which  had  come  into 
his  hands  either  through  purchase  or  through  gift,  and  that 
the  same  passed  into  the  possession  of  the  Cremona  Library, 
a  library  belonging  to  the  Jesuits  until  the  time  of  the 
suppression  of  that  order.^^ 

The  Bibhoteca  Municipale  of  Urbania  possesses  a  pair 
of  Mercator's  globes  of  1541  and  1551,  which  are  reported 
to  be  in  a  fair  state  of  preservation.  It  is  thought  that  they 
may  have  come  into  the  library's  collection  through  the  last 
reigning  member  of  the  house,  Duke  Francesco  Maria. 

In  the  Museo  Astronomico  of  Rome  two  copies  of  the 
terrestrial  globe  of  1541  may  be  found,  and  a  copy  of  the 
celestial  of  the  year  1551.  These,  it  will  be  seen  from  the 
reproduction  (Fig.  62),  are  not  in  a  good  state  of  preserva- 
tion, although  a  very  considerable  portion  of  the  map  records 
can  be  read. 

In  addition  to  the  globes  of  Mercator  referred  to  above,  it 
is  known  that  after  taking  up  his  residence  in  Duisburg  he 
constructed  a  small  celestial  globe  of  glass,  on  the  surface  of 
which  he  engraved  with  a  diamond  the  several  constella- 
tions, and  that  he  likewise  constructed  a  very  small  terres- 
trial globe  of  wood,  apparently  such  as  were  later  called 
pocket  globes,  having  all  geographical  records  given  as 
accurately  presented  as  on  the  larger  globes. ^^ 

How  great  was  the  direct  influence  of  Mercator  on  globe 
making  activities,  it  may  not  be  easy  to  trace,  but  the  evi- 
dence seems  to  be  conclusive,  as  Breusing  has  noted,  that 

[  134  ] 


Fig.  62.  Terrestrial  Globe  of  Gerhard  Mercator,  1541. 


Second  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

his  should  be  counted  the  greatest,  among  those  active  within 
this  field,  for  fifty  years  and  more,  following  the  issue  of  his 
first  work  in  the  year  1541.  It  is  among  the  Italian  globe 
makers,  and  those  in  the  peninsula  interested  in  such  instru- 
ments, that  we  seem  to  find  the  first  and  most  striking  evi- 
dence of  his  influence,  which  will  be  noted  in  the  following 
pages. 

Giovanni  Gianelli  of  Cremona  is  referred  to,  by  certain 
early  Italian  writers,  as  a  clock  and  globe  maker  of  remark- 
able ability,*^  the  justice  of  which  estimate  is  abundantly 
supported  by  the  character  of  the  one  example  of  his  handi- 
work extant,  belonging  to  the  Biblioteca  Ambrosiana  of 
Milan,  to  which  it  came  from  the  collection  of  Canon  Man- 
fred Settala  about  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  century. 
This  is  an  armillary  sphere  of  brass,  the  diameter  of  its 
largest  or  zodiacal  circle  being  14  cm.  This  circle  is  gradu- 
ated and  has  engraved  on  its  outer  surface  the  names  of  the 
twelve  constellations.  It  is  likewise  provided  with  a  grad- 
uated equatorial  circle,  with  polar  circles  and  those  repre- 
senting the  tropics.  At  the  common  center  of  the  several  rings 
is  a  small  ball,  5  cm.  in  diameter,  which  is  made  to  serve 
as  a  terrestrial  globe.  On  one  of  the  circles  is  the  inscription 
"Janellus  MDXLIX  Mediolani  fecit,"  and  we  further  find 
inscribed  the  name  "Hermetis  Delphini,"  which  perhaps 
tells  us  of  a  one-time  possessor.  In  a  volume  describing  the 
museum  of  Canon  Settala,  and  issued  in  the  year  1666, 
Gianelli  and  his  work  are  thus  referred  to : 

"To  that  great  man  Gianelli  of  Cremona  there  is  due 
great  honor,  whose  personal  qualities  made  him  an  especial 
favorite  of  His  Catholic  Majesty  Philip  II.  Among  the  many 
globes  which  he  constructed  our  museum  possesses  one  of 
surpassing  excellence,  in  that  it  exhibits,  in  addition  to  other 
movements,  that  which  astrologers  call  the  movement  of 
trepidation,  and  which  movement  was  set  forth  in  theory  by 
Thebit."'' 

The  Emperor  Charles  V,  when  in  Pavia,  we  are  told,  had 

[  135  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

his  attention  directed  to  an  armillary  sphere  constructed  by 
Dondi  in  the  fourteenth  century.  On  finding  this  sphere 
much  injured  by  rust  and  usage  he  called  upon  Giovanni 
Gianelli  to  restore  it,  but  it  was  reported  to  be  beyond  repair. 
Thereupon  the  Emperor  gave  direction  to  have  the  sphere 
reproduced,  which,  when  completed,  was  carried  by  His 
Majesty  to  Spain.  No  trace  of  this  work  by  Gianelli  can 
now  be  found. 

Girolamo  Fracastoro,  a  distinguished  Italian  physician, 
a  famous  man  of  letters,  and  a  great  philosopher  of  the  first 
half  of  the  sixteenth  century,  was  also  a  skilful  globe  maker, 
as  we  learn  from  Ramusio,^^  and  from  the  sketch  of  his  life 
which  usually  appears  as  an  introduction  to  his  collected 
works.'''' 

Vasari  also  gives  us  certain  information  concerning  him, 
noting  that  he  assisted  Francesco  dai  Libri  in  the  construc- 
tion of  his  large  globe,^^  and  we  are  led  to  believe  that  he 
was  often  consulted  as  an  expert  by  globe  makers  of  his  day. 
While  none  of  those  he  may  have  constructed  are  extant, 
what  is  known  of  his  interest  in  these  aids  to  geographical 
and  astronomical  studies  entitles  him  here  to  a  word  of 
reference. 

Ramusio  says^^  that  on  the  occasion  of  a  visit,  with  the 
architect  Michele  S.  Micheli,  to  the  home  of  their  common 
friend,  Girolamo  Fracastoro,  at  Caffi,  they  found  him  in  the 
company  of  a  gentleman,  a  very  distinguished  philosopher 
and  mathematician,  who  was  showing  him  an  instrument 
based  on  a  newly  found  movement  of  the  heavens ;  that  after 
they  had  considered  for  some  time  this  new  movement,  they 
had  brought  before  them  a  large  and  very  detailed  globe  of 
the  entire  world,  and  about  this  the  distinguished  gentleman 
began  to  speak.  Fiorini  argues,  somewhat  ingeniously,  that 
this  globe  may  have  been  one  constructed  by  Mercator  in 
1541,  if  not  one  by  Libri,  in  the  making  of  which  Fracas- 
toro himself  had  assisted.  The  letters  of  Fracastoro  assure 
us  that  he  made  use  of  globes  in  his  geographical  and  astro- 

[  136  ] 


Second  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

nomical  studies,  and  that  his  friends  did  Ukewise.  Januar}' 
25,  1533,  he  wrote  Ramusio,  "If  you  should  chance  to  speak 
to  that  master  who  made  your  metal  spheres,  I  should  like 
you  to  ascertain  how  much  a  simple  but  perfect  one,  one 
foot  in  diameter,  would  cost."  Writing  again  to  Ramusio 
January  10,  1534,  concerning  the  "Southern  Cross,"  he 
adds:  "Just  reflect  a  little,  and  if  you  have  not  sent  away 
the  celestial  globe,  look  at  that  Centaurus  and  you  will  find 
all  that  I  am  writing  to  you.  You  might  perhaps  write  about 
these  doubts  to  Mr.  Oviedo,  or  perhaps  I  might;  it  would 
be  a  good  idea  and  we  might  ask  him  about  the  ver)'  promi- 
nent star  in  the  right  foot  to  ascertain  whether  it  is  a  sepa- 
rate star  or  is  one  of  those  in  the  'Southern  Cross.'  "  On  the 
twenty-fifth  of  January,  1548,  he  again  wrote  to  Ramusio: 
"On  my  globe  Zeilan  is  just  below  the  Cape  of  Calicut,  on 
the  equinoctial  line,  and  it  may  be  that  which  Jambolo  dis- 
covered was  Zeilan  or  Taprobana;  I  am  inclined  to  believe 
it  was  Taprobana."  His  letter  of  May  10,  1549,  also  to 
Ramusio,  is  of  special  interest,  indicating,  as  it  does,  his 
estimate  of  the  value  of  terrestrial  and  celestial  globes  in 
the  study  of  astrology  (astronomy)  and  geography.  "In  re- 
gard to  what  you  write  me  about  M.  Paolo,  I  thoroughly 
approve  of  his  taking  up  the  sacred  study  of  astrolog}'  and 
geography,  subjects  of  study  for  every  learned  gentleman 
and  nobleman,  as  he  would  have  as  his  guide  and  teacher 
the  very  well-known  Piedmontese  to  whom  we  owe  so  many 
excellent  things,  but  first  I  should  advise  you  to  have  M. 
Paolo  construct  two  solid  spheres.  On  one  of  these  should 
be  represented  all  the  celestial  constellations,  and  the  circles 
should  all  have  their  place,  that  is  to  say,  not  as  Ptolemy 
represents  the  stars  as  they  were  located  in  his  time,  but 
according  to  the  investigations  of  our  own  times,  that  is, 
about  twenty  degrees  further  east.  The  other  should  be  a 
terrestrial  globe  constructed  according  to  modern  ideas, 
which  he  should  always  follow  in  his  studies.  He  will  use 
the  first  globe  for  a  thousand  and  one  things;  it  will  be  his 

[  137  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

guide  by  day  and  by  night,  and  by  making  use  of  the  quad- 
rant he  will  be  able  easily  to  locate  the  things  to  be  seen 
in  the  heavens.  Then  when  he  shall  have  been  well  started 
I  want  that  you  should  have  him  read  that  little  book  of 
mine  on  homocentricity,  wherein  he  will  be  able  to  learn 
what  astrology  is,  but  for  the  present  let  him  learn  ordinary 
astrology  which  has  been  treated  in  so  barbarous  a  manner 
as  to  lose  much  of  its  dignity."  Writing  again  from  Verona 
January  21,  1550,  to  Paolo,  after  telling  him  what  he 
should  point  out  to  his  father,  he  says:  "You  will  tell  him 
also  that  M.  Michele  di  San  Michele  has  seen  my  globe  and 
that  he  likes  it.  .  .  .  When  I  come  I  will  make  note  of  the 
principal  places,  for  I  desire  very  much  to  verify  them  with 
the  report  of  navigators  telling  what  they  have  found,  con- 
cerning which  matter,  I  think,  no  one  knows  more  than  you 
do,  or  especially  your  distinguished  father.  As  to  the  celestial 
sphere,  I  should  like  very  much  to  compare  one  I  have  with 
the  one  your  father  is  having  made,  that  I  may  learn  how  the 
constellations  compare,  and  how  many  more  of  the  fixed 
stars  have  been  inserted.  I  have  changed  their  position 
twenty  degrees.  Whether  he  agrees  with  me  or  not  I  do  not 
know." 


NOTES 

1.  Harrisse.  Discovery,  p.  247. 

2.  This  is  clearly  recorded  in  such  important  maps  as  the  Cantino,  Canerio, 
Waldseemiiller,  Schoner  globe  maps  of  1515  and  1520,  Boulengier  gores, 
Liechtenstein  gores,  et  al. 

3.  Wieser,  F.  R.  v.  Die  Karte  des  Bartolomeo  Columbo  iiber  die  vierte 
Reise  des  Admirals.  Innsbruck,  1893. 

4.  See  above,  p.  88. 

5.  A  letter  written  by  Maximilianus  Transylvanus  to  the  Cardinal  of 
Salzburg,  dated  Valladolid,  October,  1522,  and  published  in  Cologne  in 
January,  1523,  under  the  title  'De  Molucca  insulis  .  .  .  ,'  gave  the  first 
printed  notice  of  Magellan's  voyage.  See  Harrisse.  B.  A.  V.  Nos.  122,  123, 
124.  There  are  numerous  editions  of  Antonio  Pigafetta's  account  of  the 
Magellan   voyage,   which   account   is    the   principal   original    source    of   in- 

[    138   ] 


Second  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

formation  concerning  that  eventful  circumnavigation.  See  J.  A.  Robertson 
(Ed.),  Pigafetta,  Antonio.  Magellan's  Voyage  around  the  World. 

6.  MacNutt,  F.  A.  Letters  of  Cortes  to  Charles  V.  New  York,  1908.  This 
English  edition  of  the  letters  of  Cortes  contains  a  brief  biographical  sketch 
with  valuable  notes.  Cortes,  to  the  last,  appears  to  have  believed  in  the 
existence  of  a  strait  through  which  one  might  find  a  shorter  way  from 
Spain  to  the  Indies  of  the  East  than  was  hitherto  known.  Sanuto  Livio. 
Geographia  distincta.  Venitia,  1588.  Argument  against  the  idea  of  an  Asiatic 
connection  is  advanced  by  Sanuto  on  the  ground  that  the  natives  were 
frightened  at  Cortes's  horses.  Asiatics  were  acquainted  with  the  horse. 

7.  Estevan  Gomes,  who  had  sailed  with  Magellan,  undertook  in  1524, 
under  a  royal  commission,  "the  search  for  a  new  route  leading  to  Cathay 
between  the  land  of  Florida  and  the  Baccalaos,"  says  Peter  Martyr.  Decad 
VI,  lib.  X. 

8.  In  this  volume,  verso  of  seventh  leaf,  Franciscus  states  that  in  at- 
tempting to  prepare  his  description  of  a  globe,  he  had  collected  all  the 
maps  of  the  world  he  could  find.  He  especially  commends  one  attributed 
to  Maximilianus  Transylvanus,  and  although  constructed  with  much  skill, 
he  could  not  agree  with  its  geographical  representations,  admitting,  how- 
ever, that  many  did  accept  the  same,  but  objecting  to  the  separation  of 
Calvacania  (Mexico)  from  the  eastern  country  because  he  believed  it  to 
be  joined  to  the  kingdom  of  the  Great  Khan.  See  Harrisse.  Discovery, 
pp.  281,  548. 

9.  Stevenson.  Maps  illustrating  early  discovery.  No.  10  of  this  series  is 
a  reproduction  of  Maiollo's  map  in  the  size  and  in  the  colors  of  the  original. 

10.  Harrisse.  Discovery,  p.  546. 

11.  Gallois,  L.  De  Orontio  Finaeo.  Paris,  1890. 

12.  Hakluyt,  R.  Discourse  on  Western  Planting.  Ed.  by  Charles  Deane, 
with  introduction  by  Leonard  Wood.  (In :  Maine  Historical  Society,  Col- 
lections, second  series,  ii,  and  printed  as  Documentary  History  of  the  State 
of  Maine.  Vol.  II.  Cambridge,  1877.  Chap.  XVII,  §11,  p.  116.) 

In  chapter  10  of  the  Discourse  Hakluyt  refers  to  the  Locke  map  and  its 
configurations,  which  map  clearly  is  a  modified  reproduction  of  Verrazano's 
map  of  1529. 

13.  Harrisse.  Discovery,  pp.  562-568. 

14.  Nordenskiold.  Facsimile  Atlas,  p.  89.  The  author  reproduces  the 
Finaeus  map  from  a  1566  reprintj  observing  that  he  was  unable  to  locate  a 
copy  of  the  1536  edition. 

15.  Schefer,  C.  H.  A.  Le  discours  de  la  navigation  de  Jean  et  Raoul 
Parmentier.  Paris,  1883.  p.  ix.  The  citation  is  from  a  contemporary  source. 

16.  Vasari,  G.  Lives  of  the  painters.  Tr.  by  Mrs.  J.  Foster.  London, 
1850-1885.   (In:  Bohn  Library,  Vol.  Ill,  pp.  449-450.) 

17.  Blau,  M.  Memoires  de  la  Societe  Royal  de  Nancy.  Nancy,  1836.  pp. 
xi-xiv,  107.  An  excellent  reproduction  of  the  globe  in  hemispheres  accom- 
panies this  article  ;  Vincent,  R.  P.  Histoire  de  I'ancienne  image  miraculeuse 
de  Notre-Dame  de  Sion.  Nancy,  1698.  This  work  contains  the  first  description 
of  the  globe ;  De  Costa,  B.  F.  The  Nancy  Globe.  (In :  The  Magazine  of 
American  History.  New  York,  1881.  pp.  183-187.)  A  representation  of  the 
globe  in  hemispheres  is  presented  with  this  article,  being  a  slightly  reduced 
copy  of  the  Blau  illustration ;  Nordenskiold.  Facsimile  Atlas,  p.  82 ;  same, 
Periplus,  p.   159;  Winsor.  Narrative  and  Critical  History.  Vol.  II,  p.  433, 

[    139   ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

also  Vol.  Ill,  p.  214;  Compt-Rendu,  Congres  des  Americanistes.  Paris,  1877. 

P-  359. 

18.  The  probability  is  it  was  not  originally  constructed  for  this  purpose, 
although  globe  goblets  were  not  uncommon  in  this  century.  See  below,  p.  199. 

19.  Quetelet,  L.  A.  J.  Histoire  des  sciences  mathematiques  et  physiques 
chez  les  Beiges.  Brussel,  1871.  pp.  78  ff . ;  Ruscelli,  G.  La  Geografia  di 
Claudio  Tolomeo.  p.  32,  there  is  reference  to  a  "Globo,  grande" ;  Kastner, 
Vol.  II,  pp.  579  ff.;  Breusing,  A.  Leitfaden  durch  das  Wiegenalter  der 
Kartographie  bis  zum  Jahre  1600.  Frankfurt,  1883.  p.  32. 

20.  This  book  appears  to  be  one  of  the  earliest  works  treating  of  the 
scientific  construction  of  globes,  and  of  the  use  of  trigonometry  in  the 
preparation  of  the  globe  gores. 

21.  The  representation  closely  resembles  that  given  by  Schoner.  See 
Fig.  54. 

22.  Ruge,  W.  Ein  Globus  von  Gemma  Frisius.  (In :  Internationaler  Amer- 
ikanisten-Kongress,  vierzehnte  Tagung.  Stuttgart,  1904.  pp.  3-10.) 

23.  See  below,  p.  128,  for  the  novelty  introduced  by  Mercator,  in  which 
he  truncated  the  gores  near  the  poles. 

24.  Racmdonck,  J.  van.  Gerard  Mercator,  sa  vie  et  ses  oeuvres.  St.  Nicolas, 
1869.  p.  38. 

25.  Nordenskiold.  Facsimile  Atlas,  pp.  87-90.  On  map  projection  in  gen- 
eral, see  Wagner,  H.  Lehrbuch,  der  Geographie.  Leipzig,  1903.  Chap,  iv ; 
Zondervan,  H.  Allgemeine  Kartenkunde.  Leipzig,  1901.  Chap.  iii.  See  also 
references  below  to  Mercator's  world  map  of  the  year  1538,  p.  125. 

26.  Harrisse,  H.  Un  nouveau  globe  Verrazanien.  (In :  Revue  de  Geo- 
graphic. Paris,  1895.  pp.  175-177.)  An  extensive  Verrazanian  bibliography 
may  be  found  in  Phillips,  P.  L.  Descriptive  list  of  maps  of  Spanish  posses- 
sions in  the  United  States.  Washington,   1912.  pp.  39-40. 

27.  See  Stevenson  reproduction,  n.  9,  above. 

28.  See  Stevenson  reproduction,  n.  9,  above. 

29.  See  references  to  Ulpius  below,  p.  117. 

30.  Compare  this  mounting  with  that  of  Schoner  as  seen  in  Fig.  26. 

31.  This  is  a  tract  of  44  pages. 

32.  Schoner,  J.  Opera  Mathematica.  Norimbergae,  1551.  See  p.  127  for 
what  has  been  thought  to  be  a  representation  of  Schoner's  terrestrial  and 
celestial  globes  of  1533.  It  will  be  noted  that  the  maps  in  each  of  these 
globe  pictures  have  been  reversed. 

33.  See  above,  p.  96. 

34.  Wicser.  Magalhaes-Strasse.  p.  76,  and  Tab.  V,  which  is  a  copy  of  the 
southern  hemisphere  ;  Harrisse.  Discovery,  pp.  592-594,  and  pi.  XVII,  which 
is  a  copy  of  the  western  hemisphere  ;  Santarem,  V.  de.  Notice  sur  plusieurs 
monuments  geographiques  inedits.  .  .  .  (In :  Bulletin  de  la  Societe  de 
Geographie.  Paris,  1847.  p.  322.)  ;  Stevens,  H.  Notes.  New  Haven,  1869. 
p.  19 ;  Nordenskiold.  Facsimile  Atlas,  pp.  80,  83 ;  Winsor.  Narrative  and 
Critical  History.  Vol.  VIII,  p.  388. 

35.  Harrisse.  Discovery,  p.  610. 

36.  Harrisse.  Discovery,  p.  613,  and  pi.  XXII,  which  is  a  representation 
of  the  western  hemisphere. 

37.  Michow,  H.  Caspar  Vopell  ein  Kolner  Kartenzeichner  des  16  Jahr- 
hunderts  mit  2  Tafeln  und  4  Figuren.   (In:  Hamburgische  Festschrift  zur 

[    140    ] 


Second  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

Erinnerung  an  die  Entdeckung  von  Amerlka.  Hamburg,  1892.  Vol.  I,  pt.  4.)  ; 
Graf,  J.  H.  Ein  Astrolabium  mit  Erdkugel  aus  dem  Jahrc  1545,  von  Kaspar 
Volpellius.  (In:  Jahresbcricht  d.  Geographischen  Gesellschaft  zu  Munchen. 
15  Heft,  p.  228;  Nordenskiold,  op.  cit.,  p.  83,  and  pi.  XL,  which  gives  a 
representation  of  the  globe  of  1543,  twelve  gores  in  colors;  Merlo,  J.  J. 
Nachrichten   vom   Leben   und   den   Werken   Kolner   Kiinstler,   Koln,    1850. 

P-  493- 

38.  Nordenskiold,  op.  cit.,  pi.  XLV. 

39.  Korth,  L.  Die  Kolner  Globen  des  Kaspar  Vopelius.  (In :  Globus. 
Braunschweig,  1883.  Vol.  XLIV,  pp.  62-63.) 

40.  Described  briefly  by  Michow,  op.  cit.,  p.  12. 

41.  Letter  of  August  12,  1913. 

42.  Described  briefly  by  Michow,  op.  cit.,  p.  13. 

43.  Described  by  Michow,  op.  cit.,  p.  14.  Michow  cites  a  letter  written  by 
Postell  to  Abr.  Ortelius,  April  9,  1567,  in  which  the  accusation  is  made 
against  Vopel  that  merely  to  please  the  Emperor  Charles  V  he  had  joined 
America  and  Asia  in  his  globe  map.  In  this  letter  the  New  World  is  called 
Atlantis. 

44.  Such  globes,  it  will  be  noted,  represent  the  Ptolemaic  system. 

45.  Fiorini.  Sfere  terrestri  e  celcsti.  p.  214. 

46.  Wieser,  F.  R.  v.  A.  E.  Nordenskiold's  Facsimile  Atlas.  (In :  Peter- 
manns   Geographischen   Mitteilungen.   Gotha,    1890.  p.   275.) 

47.  Graf,  op.  cit.,  n.  37. 

48.  Compare   with   that   reproduced   by   Nordenskiold,   n.  38   above. 

49.  Giinther.  Erd-  und  Himmelsgloben.  p.  57  ;  Doppelmayr,  op.  cit.,  p. 
56.  Hartmann  was  a  noted  manufacturer  of  globes  and  mathematical  instru- 
ments in  Niirnberg.  In  his  youth  he  spent  several  years  in  Italy,  probably 
in  Venice. 

50.  De  Costa,  B.  F.  The  Globe  of  Ulpius.  (In :  Magazine  of  American 
History.  New  York,  1879.  pp.  17-35.)  Accompanying  the  article  is  a  re- 
draughted  representation  of  the  western  hemisphere  ;  same  author.  Verrazano 
the  Explorer.  New  York,  1881.  (In:  Magazine  of  American  History.  New 
York,  1881.  p.  64.);  Winsor,  op.  cit..  Vol.  Ill,  p.  214;  Harrisse,  H.  Notes 
sur  la  Nouvelle  France.  Paris,  1872.  p.  222;  Murphy,  H.  C.  Inquiry  into 
the  authenticity  of  Verrazano's  claims.  New  York,  1903.  p.  114. 

51.  Thatcher,  J.  B.  Christopher  Columbus.  New  York,  1903.  Vol.  II,  pp. 
93-209.  In  these  pages  may  be  found  a  critical  consideration  of  questions 
relating  to  the  subject  of  the  Line  of  Demarcation.  Linden,  H.  V.  Alex- 
ander VI  and  the  demarcation  of  the  maritime  and  colonial  domains  of 
Spain  and  Portugal,  1493-1494.  (In:  American  Historical  Review.  1916. 
pp.  1-21.) 

52.  Polidori,  P.  De  vita  gestis  et  moribus  Marceli  II,  Pontificis  Maximi 
commentarius.  Romae,  1744;  Cordelia,  L.  Memorie  storiche  dei  Cardinal! 
della  Sancta  Romana  Chiesa.  Roma,  1792.  Vol.  IV,  p.  225. 

Marcello  Cervino  was  born  in  the  year  1501.  For  his  attainments  in 
the  field  of  literature,  Italian,  Latin,  and  Greek,  in  philosophy,  jurispru- 
dence, and  mathematics  he  held  a  place  of  great  distinction  among  his  con- 
temporaries. In  the  year  1539  he  was  made  a  cardinal  prefect  of  the  Vatican, 
and  the  year  1555  he  was  elevated  to  the  Papacy,  but  died  twenty-one  days 
thereafter. 

53.  Hall,   E.   H.   Giovanni   da   Verrazano   and   his   Discoveries   in   North 

[    141    ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

America.  (In:  Fifteenth  Annual  Report  of  the  American  Scenic  and  His- 
torical Preservation  Society.  New  York,  1910.) 

There  is  an  extensive  Verrazano  literature.  The  original  letter  written 
by  the  explorer  to  Francis  I  of  France,  under  whose  auspices  he  had  sailed 
on  his  voyage  of  discovery  in  the  year  1524,  seems  to  have  been  lost,  but 
copies  of  the  same,  it  may  have  been  with  alterations,  were  sent  to  Ver- 
razano's  relatives  and  friends  in  Italy.  Ramusio,  in  the  year  1556,  and  Hak- 
luyt,  in  the  year  1582,  published  one  of  these  copies,  and  it  has  since  been 
frequently  printed. 

In  addition  to  the  above,  there  exists  a  manuscript  copy,  sometimes  re- 
ferred to  as  the  Florentine  or  Magliabechian  codex,  a  fragmentary  copy  in 
the  Academy  of  Cimento,  and  a  manuscript  copy  recently  discovered,  which 
from  the  name  of  its  present  owner  may  be  called  the  Cellere  codex.  Hall 
has  printed  the  original  document  and  has  given  an  excellent  translation  of 
the  same. 

54.  Tiraboschi.  Storia.  Tom.  VII,  pt.  i,  p.  205. 

SS-  Fiorini,  op.  cit.,  p.  117. 

56.  Navarrete,  M.  F.  de.  Noticia  biografia  de  Alonso  de  Santa  Cruz. 
Madrid,  1835.  Reprinted  in  his  Opuscules.  Tom.  II;  Nicolao,  A.  Biblioteca 
Hispana.  Romae,  1672.  Tom.  I,  p.  37;  Harrisse.  Discovery,  p.  736;  also  in 
his  Jean  et  Sebastian  Cabot,  p.  173;  Espada,  J.  de  la.  Relaciones  geograficas 
de  Indias,  publicalas  el  Ministerio  de  Fomento  Peru.  Madrid,  1885.  Tom. 
II,  p.  xxi ;  pp.  xxx-xxxvi. 

In  the  second  reference  is  a  reprint  of  an  inventory,  made  at  the  time  of 
the  death  of  Santa  Cruz,  of  his  collection  of  maps,  pictures,  and  manuscripts 
and  especially  referred  to  in  the  receipt  given  by  Juan  Lopez,  his  successor 
as  Royal  Cosmographer,  mention  being  made  of  no  less  than  eighty-seven 
items. 

57.  He  seems  to  have  produced  nothing  of  special  importance  in  his 
capacity  as  "Historicus  Regius,"  giving,  however,  some  attention  to  the 
subjects  of  heraldry,  and  genealogy.  The  question  of  the  determination  of 
longitude  interested  him,  and  there  is  still  preserved,  in  the  Royal  Library 
of  Madrid,  his  manuscript  bearing  the  title  "Libro  de  las  longitudes  y 
manera  que  hasta  ago  se  ha  tenido  en  el  arte  de  navegar  con  sus  demonstra- 
ciones  y  examplos."  At  the  time  of  his  death  there  was  also  left  a  paper  in 
manuscript,  treating  of  the  subject  of  longitude,  which  probably  contains 
a  summary  of  suggestions  made  to  the  Junta  in  Sevilla  in  the  year  1536 
"sobre  la  orden  que  se  ha  tenido  en  el  dar  de  la  longitud." 

58.  Wieser,  F.  R.  v.  Die  Karten  von  Amerika  in  den  Islario  General  des 
Alonso  de  Santa  Cruz  Cosmografo  Mayor  des  Kaisers  Karl  V,  mit  der 
spanischen  original  Texte  und  einer  Kritischen  Einleitung.  Innsbruck,  1908. 
This  work  was  reviewed  by  Stevenson,  E.  L.  (In:  American  Historical  Re- 
view. 1910.  pp.  392-394-) 

59.  Catalogue  General  des  Manuscrits  des  Bibliotheques  Publiques  de 
France.  Department  Tom.  XXXII.  Paris,  1897-  P-  399;  Harrisse.  Discovery. 
p.  621. 

60.  Schuller,  R.  R.  Arcerca  del  "Yslario  General"  de  Alonso  de  Santa 
Cruz.  London,  1913.  (In:  Proceedings  of  the  XVIII  Session  of  the  Inter- 
national Congress  of  Americanists.  London,  1913.  Vol.  II,  pp.  415-432.)  ; 
Islario  general  de  todas  las  islas  del  mundo  dirigido  a  la  S.  C.  R.  M.  del 
rey   don   Phelipe   miestro   Senor  por   Al°   de   Santa   Cruz   su   cosmographo 

[    142    ] 


Second  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

mayor,  con  grabados  en  el  texto  y  varias  laminas.  (In :  Boletin  de  la  Socie- 
dad  Geografica  de  Madrid.  Madrid,  1918,  1919-) 

61.  Harrisse.  Discovery,  p.  624;  Nordenskiold,  Facsimile  Atlas,  p.  109, 
gives  an  excellent  reproduction  of  this  map. 

62.  Dahlgren,  E.  W.  Map  of  the  World  by  Alonzo  de  Santa  Cruz,  1542. 
Stockholm,  1892.  Dahlgren  has  given  us  an  excellent  facsimile  of  this  map, 
with  critical  text  including  a  summary  of  the  work  of  Santa  Cruz  and  a 
list  of  the  names  on  the  map. 

63.  See  p.  150. 

64.  Raemdonck,  J.  v.  Gerard  Mercator,  sa  vie  et  ses  oeuvres.  St. 
Nicolas,  1869;  Wauvermans,  H.  E.  Histoire  de  I'ecole  cartographique  beige 
et  anveroise  au  XVI  siecle.  Anvers,  1895.  Vol.  II,  pp.  37-109;  174-213; 
Breusing,  A.  Gerhard  Kremer,  genannt  Mercator,  der  deutsche  Geograph. 
Duisbourg,  1869;  Raemdonck,  J.  van.  Gerard  de  Cremer  ou  Mercator, 
Geographe  Flamand.  Reponse  a  la  Conference  du  Dr.  Breusing,  tenue  a 
Duisbourg  le  30  mars,  1869.  St.  Nicolas,  1870 ;  Hall,  E.  H.  Gerard  Mer- 
cator, his  Life  and  Work.  New  York,  1878.  pp.  163-196. 

65.  The  University  Library  is  reported  to  have  possessed  many  of  the 
original  Mercator  manuscripts.  One  cannot  at  present  tell  the  fate  of  these 
manuscripts.  They  may  have  been  destroyed  at  the  time  of  the  recent  Ger- 
man invasion,  or  have  been  carried  away  with  other  material  by  the  booty- 
loving  invaders. 

66.  See  p.  102. 

67.  Raemdonck,  J.  v.  La  Geographie  ancienne  de  la  Palestine.  Lettre  de 
Gerard  Mercator,  mai  22,  1567.  St.  Nicolas,  1884.  This  map  of  Palestine, 
published  in  large  folio  size,  was  dedicated  to  Frangois  Craneveld,  Coun- 
seiller  to  the  Grand-Conseil  of  Malines,  and  published  at  Louvain  in  the 
year  1537.  A  copy  of  this  cannot  now  be  located. 

68.  Raemdonck,  J.  v.  De  groote  kaart  van  Vlaanderen  vervaardidg  in 
1540  door  G.  Mercator,  bij  middel  van  lichtdruk  weergeg.  naar  het  ex. 
behoorende  aan  het  Museum  Plantin-Moretus.  ...  en  voorzien  met  eens 
verklarende  inleiding.  Antwerp,  1882.  This  map,  in  four  sheets,  measuring 
110  by  80.6  cm.,  was  dedicated  to  Charles  V  and  published  at  Louvain. 

69.  Raemdonck,  J.  v.  Orbis  Imago.  Mappemonde  de  Gerard  Mercator. 
St.  Nicolas,  1882.  (In:  Annales  du  Cercle  Archeologique  du  Pays  de  Waes. 
St.  Nicolas,  1882.  Tom.  X,  4™^  Livr.) 

On  the  title-page  of  a  separate  of  this  article  we  read  "Notice  publiee  a 
I'occasion  de  la  reproduction  par  la  phototypie  du  seul  exemplaire  connu  de 
la  susdite  mappemonde  conserve  par  la  Societe  de  geographie  d'Amerique, 
a  New-York,  reproduction  due  a  la  sollicitude  eclairee  et  genereuse  de  cette 
meme  societe."  "Seul  exemplaire  connu"  is  not  correct.  A  fine  example  of 
the  original   1538  edition  may  be  found  in  the  New  York  Public  Library. 

In  addition  to  the  reproduction  prepared  by  The  American  Geographical 
Society  a  fine  facsimile  may  be  found  in  Nordenskiold.  Facsimile  Atlas,  pi. 
XLIII ;  also  by  Lafrere  about  1560. 

A  comparison  with  the  Orontius  Finaeus  double  cordiform  map  of  the 
year  1531  is  interesting.  It  has  been  stated  that  Mercator  copied  the  work 
of  Finaeus.  The  projections  appear  to  be  practically  identical,  but  it  will  be 
noted  that  Mercator  represents  the  New  World  as  independent  of  the  Old 
World,  whereas  Finaeus  represents  the  Asiatic  connection.  Fiorini,  M.  Le 
projezioni  cordiformi  nella  cartografia.  Rome,  1889.  (In:  Boll,  della  Societa 
Geografica  Italiana.  Roma,  1889.) 

[    143   ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

70.  See  p.  76. 

71.  Heyer,  A.  Drei  Mercatorkarten  in  der  Breslauer  Stadtbibliothek.  (In: 
Zeitschrift  fiir  Wissenschaftliche  Geographic.  Weimar,  1890.  pp.  379-389; 
474-487  ;  507-528.)  ;  Drei  Karten  von  Gerhard  Mercator,  Europa,  Britische 
Inseln,  Weltkarte.  Facsimile-Lichtdruck  nach  den  Originalen  der  Stadtbiblio- 
thek zu  Breslau.  Herausgegeben  von  der  Gesellschaft  fiir  Erdkunde  zu 
Berlin.  41  Tafeln.  Berlin,  1891.  With  title  "Europae  descriptio." 

The  map  of  Europe  in  six  sheets,  four  of  which  were  engraved  at  Lou- 
vain  and  two  at  Duisbourg,  was  dedicated  to  Antoine  Perrenot,  Bishop  of 
Arras,  and  published  at  Duisbourg  in  the  year  1554.  The  only  original 
example  now  known  is  that  belonging  to  the  Breslau  Library. 

72.  This  map  with  title  "Britannicarum  insularum  descriptio"  was  pub- 
lished at  Duisbourg  in  the  year  1564.  Reproduction  of  the  only  known 
original  example  noted  in  n.  71. 

73.  This  was  prepared  with  great  care  and  offered  in  person  by  Mercator 
to  Duke  Charles  of  Lorraine  at  Nancy.  Apparently  no  original  copy  is  in 
existence. 

74.  Raemdonck.  Orbis  Imago;  Breusing,  A.  Das  Vcrcbnen  der  Kugelober- 
flache.  Bremen,  1893.  pp.  31-48;  Steinhauser,  A.  Stabius  redivivus,  eine 
Reliquie  aus  dem  16  Jahrhundert.  (In:  Zeitschrift  fiir  Wissenschaftliche 
Geographie.  Wien,  1885.  pp.  289-291.)  ;  D'Avezac,  M.  A.  P.  de.  Coup  d'oeil 
historique  sur  la  projection  des  cartes  de  geographie.  Paris,  1875.  (In:  Bulle- 
tin de  la  Societe  de  Geographie  de  Paris.  Paris,  1865.  Tom.  V.)  ;  Wright,  E. 
The  correction  of  certain  errors  in  navigation.  London,  1599. 

There  may  be  found  numerous  references  to  the  principle  underlying  the 
Mercator  projection.  See  in  addition  to  above  references  Wagner,  op.  cit. ; 
Zondervand,  op.  cit. ;  Hall,  op.  cit.,  each  with  noted  citations. 

This  map,  with  title  "Nova  et  aucta  orbis  terrae  descriptio  ad  usum  navi- 
gantium  emendate  accommodata,"  was  dedicated  to  Duke  William  of  Cleves, 
and  was  published  at  Duisbourg  in  the  year  1569.  Original  copies  may  be 
found  in  the  Bibliotheque  Nationale,  and  in  the  Stadtbibliothek  of  Breslau, 
the  former  reproduced  by  Jomard,  the  latter  as  noted  in  n.  71.  A  long  in- 
scription on  the  map  explains  the  principle  of  the  new  projection  and  its 
use  for  navigation. 

75.  Raemdonck,  J.  van.  Les  spheres  terrcstre  et  celeste  de  Gerard  Mercator 
(1541-1551).  Notice  publiee  a  I'occasion  de  la  reproduction  de  ces  spheres  a 
I'aide  de  facsimile  de  leurs  fuseaux  origineaux,  graves  par  Mercator  et  con- 
serves a  la  Bibliotheque  Royale  a  Bruxelles.  St.  Nicolas,  1875;  Fiorini 
M.  Globi  di  Gerardo  Mercatore  in  Italia.  Rome,  1890.  (In:  Bollitino  della 
Societe  Geografica  Italiana.  Roma,  1890.)  ;  Breusing.  Gerhard  Kremer,  p.  9. 
Gerard  Mercator,  p.  9. 

This  author  writes:  "Auch  seine  mechanischen  Arbeitcn  hatten  bei  den 
Mannern  der  Wissenschaft  eine  so  giinstige  Aufnahme  gcfunden,  dass  er 
dadurch  ermutigt  wurde,  sich  an  cin  grosseres  Werk,  einen  Erdglobus,  zu 
machen,  den  er  nach  anderthalbjahriger  Arbeit  im  Jahre  1541  voUendete 
und  dem  kaiserlichen  Geheimrate  und  Reichssiegeldewahrer  Granvella  wid- 
mete.  Und  wenn  Ruscelli  uns  erzahle,  er  habe  mit  Staunen  einen  herrlichen 
Globus  von  drei  und  halben  Palme  im  Durchmesser  betrachten  miissen,  der 
von  deutscher  Arbeit  und  Granvella  gewidmet  gewesen  sei  und  an  Schiinheit 
der  Zeichnung  und  Schrift  alles  friiher  Geleistete  iibertreffe,  so  ist  wohl 
kaum  ein  Zweifel,  dass  dies  der  fragliche  Globus  Mercators  gewesen  ist. 
Ich  will  hier  gleich  hinzufiigen,  dass  im  ganzen  XVI  Jahrhundert,  wenn  von 

[  H4  ] 


Second  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

ausgezeichneten  Globen  die  Rede  ist,  diejenigen  Mercators  immer  als  die 
besten  genannt  werden." 

76.  Giinther,  S.  Geschichte  der  loxodromischen  Kurve.  Halle,  1879.  (In: 
Studien  zur  Geschichte  der  mathematischen  und  physikalischen  Geographie. 
Halle,  1879.  Heft  6.)  ;  Griinert,  J.  A.  Loxodromische  Trigonometrie.  Leip- 
zig, 1869;  Hues,  R.  Tractatus  de  globis ;  Markham,  Ed.  See  pp.  127-147. 

77.  This  was  edited  by  Van  Raemdonck  and  published  at  St.  Nicolas, 
1888. 

78.  Ghymmius,  op.  cit.  Caput  decimum,  Gerardi  Mercatoris  De  mundi 
creatione  ac  fabrica ;  Raynaud,  A.  Le  Continent  Austral,  hypotheses  et  de- 
couvertes.  Paris,  1893 ;  Wieser,  Magalhaes-Strasse,  Chap.  VI,  with  references. 

79.  See  references  in  n.  75. 

80.  Baily,  F.  The  Catalogues  of  Ptolemy,  Ulug  Beigh,  Tycho  Brahe, 
Halley,  Hevelius,  deduced  from  the  best  authorities.  London,  1843.  Consult 
for  lists  of  the  several  constellations. 

81.  See  a  reference  to  the  sale  of  Mercator  globes.  (In:  Zeitschrift  fiir 
Wissenschaftliche  Geographie,  I  Jahrgang,  p.  180.) 

82.  Blundeville,  T.  Exercises,  pp.  204-243. 

83.  Ruscelli,  op.  cit..  Cap.  IV. 

84.  Fiorini.  Sfere  terrestre  et  celeste,  p.  144. 

85.  Fiorini.  Sfere,  etc.  p.  140. 

86.  Mercator,  G.  Declaratio  insigniorum  utilitatum.  St.  Nicolas,  1888.  Ed. 
by  Raemdonck,  J.  v. 

87.  Sacco,  B.  De  italicarum  rerum  varietate  et  elegantia.  Papiae,  1565, 
lib.  X,  fol.  76. 

88.  Thebit,  an  Arabic  astronomer,  to  whom  reference  is  here  made,  lived 
in  the  latter  part  of  the  ninth  century.  He  was  chiefly  distinguished  for  his 
revision  of  the  'Almagest.' 

89.  Ramusio,  G.  B.  Navigationi  et  Viaggi.  Vol.  III. 

90.  Hieronymi  Fracastorii  Veronensis  opera  omnia.  The  biography  is 
thought  to  have  been  written  by  Adamo  Fumano. 

91.  See  above,  p.  100. 

92.  Ramusio,  op.  cit..  Vol.  I. 


[  HS  ] 


Chapter  VIII 

Globes  and  Globe  Makers  of  the  Third 
Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century 

Revival  of  interest  in  globe  making  in  Italy. — Frangois  De  Mongenet 
of  France  and  the  reprint  of  his  globe  maps  in  Italy. — Gore  map 
of  Antonius  Florianus. — Globe  records  left  by  Alessandro  Picco- 
lomini, — Ruscelli's  directions  for  globe  construction. — Reference 
to  the  work  of  Sanuto  and  Gonzaga. — Armillary  sphere  of  Vol- 
paja. — Excellent  workmanship  in  the  celestial-terrestrial  globe 
of  Christian  Heyden. — Metal  globes  of  Johannes  Fraetorius. — 
Vasari's  reference  to  the  work  of  Ignazio  Danti. — The  iron  globe 
of  Francisco  Basso. — Armillary  sphere  of  Giovanni  Bar- 
rocci. — The  work  of  Hieronymo  de  Boncompagni. — Emanuele 
Filiberto. — Anonymous  globe  of  1575. — Laurentian  armillary 
spheres. — Small  globes  of  the  Biblioteca  Nationale  of  Flor- 
ence.— Mario  Cartaro. 

j4  MONG  those  interested  in  map  and  globe  making,  in 
/_%  the  third  quarter  of  the  sixteenth  century,  none 
A  m  seems  to  have  surpassed  the  Italians.  In  the  art  of 
map  engraving  they  attained  to  a  high  degree  of  merit,  and 
much  of  the  finest  work  of  the  middle  of  the  century  is  the 
product  of  the  peninsula.  With  few  exceptions  it  is  the  Ital- 
ians who  hold  the  field  in  this  line  of  scientific  activity. 
There  can  undoubtedly  be  traced  here  the  influence  of 
Mercator,  but  there  appear  to  have  been  not  a  few  who 
worked  on  what  might  be  called  independent  lines.  The 
interest  of  illustrious  personages  in  the  construction  and  the 
possession  of  globes  prompted  activity  in  this  field.  While 
the  number  extant,  of  those  manufactured  in  this  period,  is 

[  146  ] 


Third  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

not  large,  there  are  not  a  few  references  in  letters  and  in 
scientific  works  assuring  us  of  the  construction  of  many 
which  cannot  now  be  traced. 

We  may  call  attention  first  to  Francois  De  Mongenet, 
who  appears  to  have  been  a  native  of  Franche-Comte  and 
well  known  in  his  day  as  a  globe  maker.  He  was,  however, 
quite  forgotten  until  a  few  years  since,  when  a  copy  each  of 
his  terrestrial  and  celestrial  globe  gores  was  purchased  by  the 
antiquarian  Rosenthal  of  Munich,^  and  sold  to  Mr.  Kalb- 
fleisch  of  New  York,  from  whose  collection  they  passed  into 
the  possession  of  the  New  York  Public  Library.  Since  this 
discovery  of  De  Mongenet's  interesting  work,  a  number  of 
copies  of  the  same  or  of  subsequent  editions  have  come  to 
light,  both  of  the  terrestrial  and  of  the  celestial  globe,  some 
of  which  copies  are  mounted,  some  remain  unmounted,  some 
are  of  his  first  edition  of  the  year  1552,  others  are  of  the 
second  edition,  undated,  somewhat  altered,  and  printed  in 
Italy.  All  of  his  globes  are  of  small  size,  having  each  a  diam- 
eter of  about  85  mm. 

De  Mongenet  was  bom  at  Vesoul  in  France,  and  in  the 
university  of  his  town  he  studied  medicine,  mathematics,  and 
probably  geography  or  cosmography.  There  seems  to  be  but 
little  known  concerning  the  family  to  which  Francois  be- 
longed, but  such  details  as  it  was  possible  to  gather  Marcel 
brought  together  in  a  carefully  prepared  paper.'  This  author 
thinks  it  probable  that  he  could  be  counted  among  the  circle 
of  learned  and  distinguished  men  whom  Granvella  was  ac- 
customed to  bring  together  in  his  palace  at  Besancon  on  fre- 
quent occasions  during  the  five  years  he  passed  in  that  city 
after  he  had  given  over  his  administration  of  the  Nether- 
lands. If  true,  there  "^.dj  here  be  found  a  connecting  link 
between  De  Mongenet  and  Mercator,  remembering  that  the 
latter  dedicated  his  globe  of  1541  to  the  father  of  the  dis- 
tinguished cardinal  statesman.^  The  suggestion  of  Mer- 
cator's  influence  on  De  Mongenet  appears  quite  evident  on  a 
comparison  of  the  outlines  of  their  globe  maps. 

[  147  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

The  Lenox  copy  of  the  terrestrial  gores  (Fig.  63)  is  ded- 
icated to  "Eximio  Viro:  D:  I:  P:  A  Monte  Maiore,"  while 
the  celestial  gores  (Fig.  64)  carry  the  dedication  "Eximio 
Viro  D.  Gabrieli  a  Tiesbach."  Marcel  is  of  the  opinion  that 
the  dedication  of  the  first  to  "Monte  Maiore"  refers  to  a 
prelate  of  the  illustrious  house  of  Granmont,  whose  name  in 
the  sixteenth  century  was  often  spelled  Grandmont,  and 
that  Gabrieli  Tiesbach  (Diesbach)  belonged  to  a  family  of 
Besangon,  originally  from  Freiburg,  and  that  he  was  a  knight 
of  St.  George.  The  author  and  date  legend  of  the  first  reads 
"Faciebat  Franciscus  De  Mongenet  anno  1552,"  while  that 
of  the  second  reads  "Elaborabat  Franciscus  De  Mongenet. 
Anno  1552."  The  gores  of  each  map  as  printed  measure 
from  pole  to  pole  13.7  cm.,  the  length  of  the  equatorial  line 
being  27.5  cm.  Around  each  set  there  is  a  narrow  black  bor- 
der. A  zodiacal  circle  is  likewise  printed  on  the  first 
sheet  5  cm.  in  width,  and  of  sufficient  length  to  encompass 
the  gores  when  mounted,  being  divided  into  twelve  parts, 
in  which,  in  regular  order,  are  the  figures  of  the  twelve 
zodiacal  constellations.  With  but  few  exceptions  the  several 
inscriptions  are  in  small  capitals,  and  are  well  executed. 

The  draughtsmanship  which  the  terrestrial  map  exhibits 
in  all  parts,  as  well  as  that  exhibited  by  the  celestial,  dis- 
plays skill  of  very  considerable  merit.  The  general  outline 
of  the  New  World's  coasts  is  quite  as  well  done  as  on  any 
of  the  maps  of  the  day,  the  Pacific  coast  line  of  North 
America  sweeping  in  a  great  curve  northward  and  north- 
eastward, while  a  great  broad  stretch  of  ocean  separates  the 
continent  from  Asia.  In  North  America  we  find  only  the 
inscriptions  "Hispania  maior"  and  "baccalea."  South  Amer- 
ica bears  the  inscription  "America,"  so  extended  as  to  cover 
the  continent.  The  names  of  geographical  localities  are  com- 
paratively few,  the  size  of  the  globe  making  it  impossible 
to  insert  many  details. 

On  a  second  pair  of  De  Mongenet's  globes,  referred  to  by 
Marcel,  the  dedications  and  inscriptions  differ  slightly  from 

[  148  ] 


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Third  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

those  given  above.  On  the  terrestrial  gores  we  find  "lUustr. 
Ac  Rever.  D.  D.  CL.  A.  Bauma  Arch.  Bis.,"  and  the  signa- 
ture, "Elaborabat  Francis.  De  Mongenet.  V.  E.  V."  On  the 
celestial  gores  we  read  "lUustr.  Ac  Rever.  D.  D.  CL.  A. 
Bauma  Arch.  Bis.  E.  V.,"  the  signature  "Elaborabat  Fran- 
ciscus  De.  Mongenet.  V.,"  and  the  privilege  "Cum  privilegio 
Pont.  Max.  Sqe.  Ven."  Citing  again  Marcel's  opinion,  the 
Claudio  de  la  Baume  referred  to  was  Archbishop  of 
Besangon,  and  the  letter  "V"  placed  after  the  name  of  the 
globe  maker  doubtless  refers  to  Vesoul,  his  birthplace;  the 
letters  "E.  V."  may  stand  either  for  "Excusum  Venetiis," 
indicating  the  city  in  which  the  work  was  done,  or  for  "Enea 
Vico,"  the  name  of  the  actual  engraver  of  the  gores,  who 
is  known  as  having  been  at  that  time  an  engraver  of  medals, 
being  now  especially  remembered  for  his  medals  of  the  first 
twelve  Emperors  of  Rome.* 

The  gores  of  the  first  edition  were  printed  from  engraved 
wooden  blocks;  the  second  were  printed  from  engraved 
copper  plates  which  exhibit  a  very  superior  workmanship, 
and  it  is  to  be  noted  that  many  more  names  appear  on  the 
terrestrial  gores  than  on  those  of  the  first  edition.  Ruscelli, 
in  his  edition  of  Ptolemy  of  1561,  makes  mention  of  "a 
little  globe,  published  lately  by  Francesco  Mongonetto 
Borgonone,"^  which  allusion  would  seem  to  indicate  a  refer- 
ence to  the  second  edition  and  to  its  issue  near  1561.  Al- 
though this  second  edition  contains  more  names  than 
does  the  first,  it  gives  little  indication  that  the  author  had 
knowledge  of  discoveries  subsequent  to  the  first  edition. 
Like  Mercator  he  represents  North  America  as  separated 
from  Asia,  as  before  noted,  by  a  wide  expanse  of  ocean,  to 
which  no  name  has  been  given,  and  like  Mercator  he  lays 
down  a  large  austral  continent.  His  globes  could  hardly 
have  been  received  with  as  much  favor  as  were  those  by  his 
Flemish  contemporary,  since  they  were  so  small  as  to  appear 
like  mere  playthings. 

Of  the  first  edition,  other  than  those  gores  to  be  found  in 

[  149  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

the  New  York  Public  Library,  a  set  of  the  terrestrial  and 
the  celestial  gores  is  in  the  British  Museum,  and  of 
the  terrestrial  in  the  Germanisches  Nationalmuseum  of 
Niimberg. 

Of  the  second  edition,  copies  of  the  unmounted  gores  may- 
be found  in  the  Bibliotheque  Nationale,  in  the  British 
Museum,  in  the  private  library  of  Prince  Trivulzio  of 
Milan.  A  mounted  pair  of  the  second  edition  may  be  found 
in  the  Osservatorio  Astronomico  of  Rome  (Fig.  65),  and 
in  addition  a  second  example  of  the  celestial  globe,  which 
is  described  as  having  excellent  mountings  of  brass,  so 
arranged  as  to  make  possible  a  revolution  of  the  globe  both 
on  an  equatorial  axis  and  an  axis  of  the  ecliptic.  Its  horizon 
circle  is  supported  by  two  brass  semicircles,  the  whole  rest- 
ing on  four  wooden  columns  of  modern  construction,  and 
these  in  turn  resting  on  representations  of  lion's  paws  in 
bronze.  An  example  of  the  mounted  terrestrial  globe  is  said 
to  belong  to  the  collection  of  Sr.  Bazolle  of  Belluno,  which 
example  once  belonged  to  the  Counts  of  Pilloni. 

Attention  has  been  called  to  the  peculiar  gore  map  of 
Santa  Cruz,"  and  to  the  fact  that  his  method  of  construction 
seems  not  to  have  won  favor.  We,  however,  find  among  the 
map  makers  of  Italy,  in  the  period  of  which  we  are  now 
speaking,  one  Antonius  Florianus,^  who,  if  not  copying  the 
plan  of  Santa  Cruz,  followed  closely  his  scheme.  His  map, 
of  which  numerous  copies  are  known  (Fig.  66),  seems  to 
have  been  prepared  for  mounting  on  a  ball,  although  no 
such  mounted  example  can  now  be  located.  With  the  poles 
as  centers,  and  with  a  radius  equal  to  one  quarter  of  the 
circumference  of  the  sphere  he  proposed  to  construct,  he 
drew  his  equatorial  circles,  which  thus  gave  him  two  hemi- 
spheres, respectively,  a  northern  and  a  southern;  in  the  same 
manner  he  drew  his  parallels  at  intervals  of  ten  degrees, 
using  for  each  the  common  polar  centers.  In  each  of  the 
hemispheres  he  drew  thirty-six  sectors,  each  sector  being 
made  to  represent  ten  degrees  of  longitude,  and  they  were 

[  150  ] 


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Third  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

so  shaped  mathematically  that  their  combined  width  at  the 
equator  would  equal  the  circumference  of  the  sphere  of 
which  the  selected  radius,  referred  to  above,  represented 
one  quarter  of  that  circumference.  When  prepared  for 
mounting,  the  vacant  space  between  the  several  sectors 
could  be  cut  away,  leaving  the  thirty-six  engraved  sectors, 
on  which  the  world  map  appeared,  to  be  pasted  on  the  sur- 
face of  the  sphere.  The  scheme  which  Florianus  devised  was 
practically  that  employed  by  Werner  in  his  equivalent 
cordiform  projection,  and  likewise  that  of  Finaeus  and 
Mercator.^ 

It  was  the  eighteenth  of  January,  in  the  year  1555?  that 
Florianus  obtained  a  copyright  from  the  Venetian  senate 
for  his  map,'^  but  it  is  probable  he  died  before  the  map 
appeared  in  print,  since  there  is  evidence  of  incompleteness 
in  the  known  copies.  In  the  spaces,  with  artistic  borders, 
which  had  been  designed  for  inscriptions,  nothing  appears, 
and  in  but  two  of  the  four  cartouches  evidently  intended  for 
portraits  do  such  portraits  appear,  viz.,  that  of  Ptolemy  and 
of  the  author  himself. 

The  geographical  outlines  of  the  map  closely  resemble 
those  of  De  Mongenet,  as  well  as  those  of  Mercator.  North 
America  is  given  practically  the  same  shape.  The  great 
expanse  of  ocean  lying  between  this  continent  and  Asia  is 
called  "Oceanus  orientalis  indicus,"  and  midway  between 
the  continents,  in  latitude  45  degrees,  is  "Sipango."  North 
America  is  called  "Americae,"  also  "Hispania  maior,"  while 
South  America  is  likewise  called  "Americae."  The  great 
austral  land  is  represented  but  is  unnamed.  The  whole  is 
indeed  a  fine  example  of  Italian  copper  engraving. 

Numerous  copies  of  Florianus'  map  are  known.  It  usually 
appears  in  the  Lafreri  collection,  and  Fiorini  notes  that 
copies  may  be  found  in  the  Archivo  di  State  of  Turin,  in 
the  Marciana  of  Venice,  in  the  Biblioteca  Vittorio  Eman- 
uele  of  Rome,  in  the  Biblioteca  Comunale  of  Treviso,  in  the 
private  library  of  Professor  Marinelli  of  Florence,  in  the 

[  151  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

British  Museum,  in  the  private  library  of  Nordenskiold. 
To  the  above  may  be  added  the  New  York  Public  Library, 
the  Library  of  Congress,  and  the  Harvard  Library,  which 
likewise  possess  copies. 

Among  the  numerous  references  appearing  here  and  there 
in  the  literature  of  Italy,  assuring  us  of  the  interest  in  that 
country  in  globe  construction,  reference  may  be  made  to 
the  record  left  by  Alessandro  Piccolomini,  a  native  of  Siena, 
and  author  of  a  work  on  the  extent  of  the  land  and  water,^*^ 
who,  in  the  preparation  of  his  work,  made  extensive  study 
of  the  records  to  be  found  in  plane  maps  and  globes.  In  his 
work  published  in  Venice  in  the  year  1558,  though  his  dedi- 
cation to  M.  Jacomo  Cocco,  Archbishop  of  Corfu,  reads 
August  28,  1557,  "Delia  mia  casa  di  S.  Giorgio,  di  Siena,  il 
di  XXVIII  di  Agosto  MDLVII,"  he  tells  of  several  globes 
which  it  had  been  his  privilege  to  examine.  "I  have  zealously 
examined  geographical  maps,  both  plain  and  spherical,  and 
especially  those  which  are  reputed  to  be  most  faithful,  for 
example,  among  others,  a  solid  terrestrial  sphere  shown  me 
by  Cardinal  Viseo."  Another  I  saw  at  the  home  of  the  Car- 
dinal of  Carpi,^'  exhibiting  mountain  elevations  in  a  new 
and  excellent  manner,  and  still  another  much  larger  kept 
at  present  at  the  home  of  Cardinal  of  Urbino.^^  There  is 
also  a  globe  having  a  diameter  of  about  an  arm's  length, 
which  I  saw  two  years  since  at  the  home  of  the  Archbishop 
of  Corfu,  and  still  another  I  have  recently  seen  about  the 
same  size  or  about  one  arm's  length  in  diameter,  which  had 
been  presented  to  His  Excellency  the  Duke  of  Paliano."  He 
adds  that  he  had  made  careful  geographical  computations 
in  his  investigations,  employing  the  last-named  sphere.  As  to 
his  method  of  procedure  in  his  studies  he  states  that  "first  of 
all  having  placed  before  me  a  solid  sphere  of  about  three 
feet  in  diameter,  the  most  exact  I  have  been  able  to  find 
among  those  referred  to  above,  namely,  the  one  with  the 
equinoctial  circle  and  with  the  meridian  passing  through  the 
Canaries  of  the  Fortunate  islands  where  Ptolemy  located  the 

[  152  ] 


c 
o 

CO 

o 

4-1 

c 


<v 
;-. 

O 

o 

o 

bi) 


Third  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

prime  meridian,  I  have  divided  it  into  four  equal  parts — 
two  northern  and  two  southern."  It  seems  probable  that  the 
globe  here  referred  to  is  that  which  he  stated  belonged  to  the 
Cardinal  of  Urbino,  and  which  he  noted  was  larger  than  was 
that  belonging  to  Cardinal  Viseo  or  to  the  Cardinal  of  Carpi, 
the  diameter  of  which  he  stated  to  be  an  arm's  length.  Pic- 
colomini  gives  us  no  intimation  as  to  the  authorship  of  the 
five  globes  he  says  he  examined.  He  adds  an  interesting 
word  concerning  the  character  of  the  globe  of  Cardinal 
Carpi,  seeming  to  imply  that  it  was  not  a  printed  globe, 
since  it  represented  "mountain  elevations."  We  perhaps  are 
justified,  says  Fiorini,  in  concluding  from  this  and  other 
evidence  that  the  maps  on  these  globes  were  not  printed, 
since  they  were  of  very  large  size,  and  we  know  that  Merca- 
tor's  globes  41  cm.  in  diameter  were  then  considered  to  have 
special  value  because  larger  than  others  constructed  in  a 
similar  manner,  that  is,  having  their  maps  engraved  or 
printed. 

We  may  here  again  refer  to  Ruscelli's  directions  for  globe 
construction,^*  to  which  he  added  certain  suggestions  for 
globe  adornment,  that  they  might  appeal  to  princes  and 
nobles.  "Globes  of  copper,  bronze  or  silver,"  he  says,  "such 
as  princes  would  desire  to  possess,  to  be  fine,  durable  and 
rare  should  be  plated,  that  is,  the  circles,  the  letters,  the 
outlines  of  the  countries  should  first  be  engraved  and  then 
there  should  be  added  gold  or  silver  plating."  "A  generous 
prince,"  he  adds,  "could  have  them  made  in  Asimino  or 
Tausia  style,  as  they  say,  that  is,  have  the  copper  surface 
engraved,  and  the  grooves  filled  with  silver  or  gold  thread. 
By  forcing  this  in  the  work  can  be  made  very  strong."  He 
states  in  one  of  his  chapters  that  globes  so  constructed  are 
usually  small,  but  he  adds  that  he  had  seen  globes  three 
and  a  half  palms  in  diameter,  such  as  that  sent  to  him  by 
Zurelio  Porcelaga.  Of  this  last  he  speaks  in  words  of  praise, 
passing  on  to  refer  to  two  large  ones  then  under  construc- 
tion in  Venice.  "One  of  these,"  he  says,  "is  of  copper  being 

[  153  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

made  by  Giulio  Sanuto,  which  it  is  hoped  will  be  one  of 
the  best  as  one  of  the  most  beautiful  of  any  constructed  up 
to  the  present  time."  The  implication  seems  to  be,  from  the 
words  of  Ruscelli,  that  at  least  some  part  of  the  printing  was 
to  be  made  directly  on  the  surface  of  the  sphere.  Further 
information  given  by  Ruscelli  touching  Sanuto  and  Gon- 
zaga  in  this  connection  is  here  of  interest.  He  states  "besides 
the  fact  that  Giulio  Sanuto  is  very  skilful  in  drawing  and 
engraving,  especially  in  geographical  maps  of  the  world  and 
its  parts,  he  is,  in  this  task,  being  aided  by  Livio  Sanuto,^'  a 
Venetian  nobleman,  his  brother,  among  whose  many  good 
qualities  he  possesses  to  a  degree  above  the  ordinary,  are  his 
attainments  in  the  profession  of  geography.  Both  are  giving 
so  much  attention  to  this  globe  that  it  is  expected,  in  both 
matter  and  form,  it  will  be  perfect.  Another  globe  three 
arm's  length  in  diameter  has,  since  last  year,  been  begun 
by  Curtio  Gonzaga,  which  he  intends  shall  contain  all  of 
those  things  that  Taisnero  has  included  in  his  globe  as  well 
as  many  other  things  that  the  said  gentleman  intends  to  add, 
hoping  to  make  one  of  the  most  beautiful  and  perfect 
spheres  to  be  seen  for  many  years  to  come.  This  can  easily 
be  believed,  for  he  will  do  ever\-thing  himself,  and  as  the 
greater  diligence  will  thus  be  exercised  we  will  have  all  of 
the  advantages  of  his  great  knowledge  of  geography,  to 
which  subject  as  ever,  he  is  giving  all  of  his  attention,  and 
the  advantage  of  his  great  skill  in  lettering  and  designing."^® 
Ruscelli  maintained  that  globes  are  preferable  to  ordi- 
nary maps  in  geographical  studies,  stating  that  "although 
maps  of  three  or  four  arm's  length  and  width  are  to  be  found 
they  are  not  numerous  and  are  not  of  great  value,  and 
furthermore  we  have  globes,  which,  in  extent  of  space  ex- 
hibited, surpass  them.  Granting  that  some  Princes  and  cer- 
tain others  do  have  maps  very  large,  as  for  example,  such 
as  Pope  Paul  II  had  made  for  the  palace  of  S.  Marco  in 
Rome,  there  are  also  Princes  and  private  persons  who  have 
globes  which  in  size  much  surpass  the  plane  maps  that  I 

[  154  ] 


Third  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

have  ever  seen  or  heard  of."  "Until  a  few  years  since 
no  one  knew  how  to  print  such  globes,  and  all  were  made 
with  pen  and  brush,  .  .  .  later  geniuses  have  found  a  way 
for  printing  globe  maps  very  accurately,  which,  in  a  wonder- 
ful way  they  can  place  over  the  surface  of  a  sphere ;  a  way 
has  also  been  found  for  making  the  spheres  round  and  exact, 
and  a  method  for  computing  measurements  for  the  coverings 
to  fit  the  sphere,  and  for  the  construction  of  such  other 


5>17 


things  as  belong  thereto 

The  Volpaja  family  of  Florence  achieved  considerable 
distinction  in  the  late  fifteenth  and  in  the  sixteenth  century, 
through  those  members  who  were  interested  in  the  con- 
struction of  astronomical  instruments  and  particularly  in 
armillary  spheres.  Vasari  tells  us  that  "in  the  chapel  of 
Santa  Trinita,  in  fresco,  is  a  picture  of  the  Magnificent 
Lorenzo  de'  Medici,  father  of  Pope  Leo  X.  ...  In  the  same 
picture  is  Lorenzo  della  Volpaja,  a  most  excellent  master 
in  the  art  of  making  watches,  and  a  distinguished  astrologer, 
by  whom  a  most  beautiful  clock  was  made  for  Lorenzo  de' 
Medici,  which  the  most  illustrious  Duke  Cosimo  now  has  in 
his  palace,  and  wherein  all  of  the  movements  of  the  planets 
are  perpetually  shown  by  means  of  wheels,  a  very  rare 
thing,  and  the  first  that  was  made  in  that  manner."^^ 

At  the  time  of  its  founding  there  came  to  the  Museo 
di  Strumenti  Antichi  di  Astronomia  e  di  Fisica  of  Flor- 
ence a  fine  armillary  sphere  inscribed  "Hieronimus  Camilli 
Vulpariae  Florent:  fe:  1557."  It  is  of  gilded  metal,  having 
five  spheres  or  rings  ranging  from  60  to  75  mm.  in  diameter, 
and  in  addition  eighteen  circles,  including  polar,  tropical, 
and  equatorial  circles  with  meridian  and  horizon,  the  latter 
having  a  diameter  of  144  mm.  Further  information  recorded 
by  Fiorini  tells  us  that  it  is  mounted  on  a  wooden  base." 
On  the  equatorial  circle  of  the  smallest  sphere  is  engraved 
"Deferens  Augiem,"  on  the  next,  "Deferens  Epiciculum," 
on  the  third,  "Deferens  Augiem,"  on  the  fourth,  "Deferens 
Dragonem."  The  fifth  sphere  is  composed  of  six  large  cir- 

[  155  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

cles  and  four  small  ones.  The  circles  which  represent  the 
meridians,  the  equator,  the  ecliptic,  and  the  horizon  are 
graduated,  while  on  the  ecliptic  appear  the  names  of  the 
twelve  zodiacal  constellations,  and  on  the  horizon  the  names 
of  the  principal  winds  or  directions.  This  globe  is  referred 
to  as  one  of  special  interest  because  of  its  peculiar  and  some- 
what complicated  construction;  it  is  mounted  on  a  wooden 
base,  which  is  more  modern  than  the  globe  proper,  and  in 
many  parts  gives  evidence  of  restoration. 

In  the  same  museum  there  is  a  second  armillary  sphere 
constructed  by  a  member  of  the  Volpaja  family,  perhaps 
by  the  same  one  who  constructed  the  preceding.  It  is  in- 
scribed "Hieronimus  Vulpariae  Florentius  Fe.  A.D.MD- 
LXIIII"  and  was  a  gift  to  the  museum  by  the  Grand  Duke 
Leopold  I.  The  diameter  of  its  horizon  circle,  including  the 
attached  parts,  is  41  cm.,  and  its  height,  including  its  base, 
76  cm.  It  has  been  described  as  follows:  "An  armillary 
sphere,  the  armillae  of  which  are  of  gilded  brass.  The  small 
globe  within  the  circles  representing  the  earth  is  of  the 
clearest  crystal.  The  horizon  is  of  gilded  brass  and  rests 
on  a  branched  support  ornamented  with  human  heads  in 
relief.  The  lower  part  of  the  branches  is  attached  to  a  base 
resting  on  three  lion's  paws.  The  branches,  the  heads,  the 
base,  and  the  paws  are  all  of  brass.  In  the  northern  and 
southern  sections  of  the  horizon  there  are  attachments  con- 
taining receptacles  for  holding  the  magnetic  needle,  but 
which  needle  in  both  places  is  wanting.  The  equator,  the 
tropics,  and  the  polar  circles  are  not  zones  but  are  triangular 
prisms  bent  in  the  form  of  circles.  Furthermore  a  part  of  the 
ecliptic,  that  is  to  say,  one  of  its  zones,  is  of  gilded  brass 
and  is  graduated,  and  shows  the  names  of  the  months  and 
the  signs  of  the  zodiac.  The  diameter  of  the  sphere  is  12.6 
pollici  (inches  ^)."'° 

There  is  to  be  found  in  the  Mathematical  Salon  of  Dres- 
den a  fine  example  of  the  work  of  Christian  Heyden  (1525- 
1576),  son  of  a  rector  of  the  St.  Sebaldus  School  of  Niim- 

[  156  ] 


Fig.  67.  Globe  of  Christian  Heyden,  1560. 


Third  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

berg.  Doppelmayr"^  tells  us  that  after  years  of  study  in 
Leipzig  and  Wittenberg,  he  returned  to  his  native  city,  be- 
came interested  in  making  mathematical  instruments,  and 
in  1 564  he  was  appointed  to  a  professorship  of  mathematics 
in  the  famous  Niimberg  gymnasium.  His  biographer  does 
not  refer  to  his  activity  as  a  globe  maker,  but  tells  us  that 
about  the  year  1570  he  constructed  for  the  Emperor  Maxi- 
milian II  a  mechanical  device  for  illustrating  the  movement 
of  the  sun  and  the  moon,  which  instrument,  he  notes,  espe- 
cially interested  the  noted  Frenchman,  Petrus  Ramus,  who 
carefully  examined  it  on  the  occasion  of  a  visit  to  Niimberg. 
The  Dresden  example  of  his  work  (Fig.  67),  the  only  exam- 
ple known,  consists  of  a  brass  celestial  globe  encased  in  a 
covering  of  brass,  on  the  surface  of  which  is  engraved  a 
terrestrial  map.  It  has  a  diameter  of  72  cm.,  the  whole  being 
furnished  with  a  horizon,  a  meridian,  and  an  hour  circle. 
This  is  indeed  a  choice  specimen  of  a  sixteenth-century  en- 
graved metal  globe,  of  which  we  have  numerous  examples, 
but  it  is  rather  an  ornamental  piece  than  one  of  great 
scientific  value. 

Doppelmayr  likewise  gives  us  a  brief  biographical  note 
referring  to  one  Johannes  Praetorius,  a  globe  maker,  born 
at  Joachimsthal  in  the  year  1537."  After  a  considerable 
period  of  study,  chiefly  at  Wittenberg,  where  he  turned  his 
attention  to  the  philosophical  and  mathematical  sciences,  he 
took  up  a  residence  in  Niimberg  in  the  year  1562.  Here  he 
became  interested  in  the  construction  of  mechanical  and 
astronomical  instruments,  and  soon  won  the  favor  of  the 
Emperor  Maximilian  II,  which  favor  he  enjoyed  to  the  end 
of  that  Emperor's  reign.  It  was  about  the  year  1576  that  he 
became  a  professor  of  mathematics  at  Altdorf,  where  he 
died  in  the  year  1616.  Doppelmayr  refers  to  a  number  of  the 
mathematical  and  astronomical  instruments  constructed  by 
him,  noting  that  in  the  year  1566  he  completed  two  globes 
of  metal  richly  gilded,  each  having  a  diameter  of  11^ 
inches,  that  each  was  furnished  with  an  hour  circle,  a  mov- 

[   157  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

able  quadrant  and  semicircles,  and  that  a  compass  was  set 
in  the  base  of  each.  We  learn  also  from  the  same  biographer 
that  in  the  year  1568  he  completed  a  brass  astrolabe  having 
a  diameter  of  "one  schuh"  (foot  *?),  three  and  one  half 
inches,  and  that  it  was  supplied  with  all  parts  essential  to  a 
complete  apparatus  of  its  character.  We  are  further  in- 
formed that  shortly  after  the  beginning  of  his  career  in 
Altdorf  he  undertook  the  construction  of  a  large  celestial 
globe  of  wood  and  paper,  having  a  diameter  of  four  Niirn- 
berg  feet,  that  he  was  assisted  in  this  work  by  the  artist 
and  draughtsman,  Christopher  Heinrichs,  and  that  on  the 
surface  of  the  sphere  one  thousand  six  hundred  and  fifty 
stars  were  indicated  with  appropriate  accompanying  inscrip- 
tions. 

Two  pairs  of  Praetorius'  globes  are  now  known,  one 
pair  in  the  Mathematical  Salon  of  Dresden  (Fig.  68),^^  and 
the  other  in  the  Germanisches  National  Museum  of  Niirn- 
berg.  These  globes  are  of  brass,  each  having  a  diameter  of 
28  cm.;  each  is  supplied  with  meridian,  horizon,  and  hour 
circles  and  rests  on  a  tripod  base.  They  are  richly  engraved 
pieces,  the  terrestrial  example  being  remarkably  well  pre- 
served, the  celestial  being  slightly  injured,  through  rubbing 
which  has  removed  parts  of  certain  figures  of  the  con- 
stellations. 

Among  those  Italians  who,  in  the  sixteenth  century,  ac- 
quired well-merited  fame  as  globe  makers  may  be  mentioned 
Ignazio  Danti  (1536-1586),^*  known  as  Pellegrino  before 
he  entered  the  order  of  the  preaching  friars  in  his  nineteenth 
year.  The  name  Danti  appears  to  have  been  given  him 
chiefly  on  account  of  his  great  learning,  particularly  in  the 
field  of  mathematics  and  astronomy.  In  the  same  branches 
of  science  his  father  had  achieved  distinction,  and  likewise 
his  grandfather,  Vicenzo  de  Rinaldi,  who,  in  the  year  1571, 
issued  a  translation  of  the  'Sfera'  of  Sacrobosco,  and  who 
constructed,  as  we  are  told,  an  astrolabe  and  an  armillary 
sphere. ^°  It  seems  to  have  been  early  in  the  year  1563  that 

[  158] 


Fig.  68.  Globe  of  Johannes  Praetorius,   1566. 


Third  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

Danti  was  called  to  Florence  by  Duke  Cosimo  for  the  pur- 
pose of  constructing,  under  his  patronage,  nautical  and 
astronomical  instruments  and  geographical  maps.  Of  his 
work  which  is  still  known  to  us  there  may  be  first  mentioned 
an  astronomical  quadrant  placed  on  the  facade  of  the  church 
of  Santa  Maria  Novella,  and  an  equinoctial  armilla  placed 
within  the  same  church.  We  have  first  mention  in  Vasari's 
'Lives'  of  the  globe  and  map  work  of  his  which  especially 
concerns  us  here.  It  is  an  interesting  account  of  his  activity  in 
this  field,  an  account  worthy  of  citation.  "Fra  Ignazio  Danti 
is  very  learned  in  cosmography  and  a  man  of  distinguished 
ability  in  letters,  in  so  much  that  the  Duke  Cosimo  has 
committed  to  his  care  a  work  than  which  none  more  perfect 
in  design,  or  more  important  in  the  results  to  be  expected 
from  it,  has  ever  been  executed  in  that  kind.  His  excellency 
has  caused  a  room  of  considerable  extent  to  be  prepared  on 
the  second  floor  of  his  palace,  as  a  continuation  of,  and  an 
addition  to  the  guardaroba;  around  this  room  he  has  had 
cabinets  arranged  seven  braccia  high,  and  richly  carved  in 
walnut  wood,  intending  to  place  within  them  the  most  valu- 
able and  beautiful  works  of  art  in  his  possession ;  and  on  the 
doors  of  the  same  he  has  caused  fifty-seven  pictures,  about 
two  braccia  in  height  and  of  proportionate  width,  to  be 
painted  in  oil  on  wood  in  the  manner  of  miniatures.  The 
subjects  delineated  are  the  Ptolemaic  Tables,  measured  by 
Don  Ignazio  with  the  most  exact  perfection,  and  corrected 
according  to  the  latest  authorities;  sea-charts  of  the  utmost 
accuracy  are  added,  the  scale  and  the  degrees  being  adjusted 
with  all  possible  care,  and  all  having  the  ancient,  as  well  as 
the  modern,  names ;  the  division  made  of  these  works  being 
as  follows.  At  the  principal  entrance  into  the  room  are  seen 
four  pictures  executed  on  the  sides  of  the  cabinets,  and  repre- 
senting in  perspective  the  halves  of  four  spheres,  those  below 
showing  the  earth,  and  those  above  the  heavens  with  all 
their  signs  and  celestial  figures.  Proceeding  toward  the  right 
we  have  all  Europe  depicted  in  fourteen  compartm.ents,  the 

[  159  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

pictures  succeeding  each  other  to  the  center  of  the  wall  which 
is  at  the  head  of  the  room,  and  opposite  to  the  principal 
door,  that  namely  whereon  is  placed  the  horologue  with  its 
wheels,  and  the  daily  motions  made  by  the  planets  in  their 
spheres;  I  mean  that  so  much  renowned  clock  made  by  the 
Florentine  Lorenzo  della  Volpaja.  Above  the  compartments 
representing  Europe,  are  those  of  Africa  in  eleven  divisions ; 
these  extend  to  the  horologue  itself,  beyond  which  and  on 
the  lower  part  is  Asia,  which  occupies  a  consecutive  range 
of  four  compartments,  extending  to  the  principal  door. 
There  are  besides  the  West  Indies,  which  commence  from 
the  clock,  and  continue  to  the  principal  door;  the  whole 
series  forming  the  fifty-seven  divisions  before  mentioned. 
On  the  lower  part  of  the  walls  and  immediately  beneath 
the  geographical  delineations,  in  an  equal  number  of  com- 
partments will  be  the  various  plants  and  animals  produced 
by  the  respective  countries,  all  depicted  from  nature.  Over 
the  cornice  of  the  said  cabinets,  which  completes  the  decora- 
tions, there  are  to  be  niches  dividing  the  pictures,  and  in 
these  will  be  placed  certain  antique  busts  in  marble,  repre- 
senting the  Emperors  and  Princes  by  whom  these  lands  have 
been  possessed,  so  far  as  those  portraits  are  known  to  exist 
or  can  be  procured.  The  ceiling  is  entirely  in  carved  wood- 
work, and  within  the  compartments  of  the  same  are  twelve 
large  pictures,  in  each  of  which  are  to  be  four  celestial  signs, 
making  in  the  whole  forty-eight;  the  figures  are  to  be  but 
little  less  than  life  size,  each  accompanied  by  its  stars.  On 
the  walls  beneath  are  three  hundred  portraits  of  distin- 
guished persons  belonging  to  the  last  five  centuries,  or  some- 
what more;  they  are  painted  in  oil;  but,  that  I  may  not 
make  too  long  a  story,  I  refer  the  mention  of  their  names 
to  the  tables  of  my  work.  All  have  frames  of  similar  size, 
very  richly  carved  in  oak,  and  producing  an  exceedingly 
fine  effect." 

"In  the  two  pictures  occupying  the  center  of  the  ceiling, 
each  of  which  is  four  braccia  wide,  are  the  celestial  signs; 

[  160  ] 


Third  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

these  can  be  thrown  back  by  means  which  cannot  be  per- 
ceived; and  in  a  space  representing  the  concave  are  to 
be  two  large  spheres,  one  representing  the  earth :  this  will  be 
made  to  descend  by  a  concealed  windlass,  and  will  then  be 
balanced  on  a  support  adequate  to  that  purpose,  so  that 
when  fixed,  all  the  pictures  and  the  maps  on  the  cabinet 
will  be  reflected  therein,  each  part  being  thus  readily  found 
on  the  sphere.  On  the  other  globe  the  forty-eight  celestial 
signs  will  be  arranged,  in  such  sort  that  all  the  operations 
of  the  astrolabe  may  be  performed  most  perfectly  by  the 
aid  thereof.  The  plan  of  this  work  has  proceeded  from  the 
Duke  Cosimo,  who  desired  to  have  all  these  parts  of  the 
earth  and  heaven  brought  for  once  fairly  together  in  their 
just  positions,  exactly  and  without  errors,  to  the  end  that 
they  might  be  observed  and  measured,  either  apart  or  all 
together,  as  might  be  desired  by  those  who  study  and  delight 
in  this  most  beautiful  science.  I  have  therefore  thought  my- 
self bound  to  make  a  memorial  of  the  same  in  this  place, 
for  the  sake  of  Fra  Ignazio;  and  that  his  ability,  with  the 
magnificence  of  that  great  Prince,  who  has  judged  us  worthy 
to  enjoy  the  benefits  of  so  honorable  a  labor,  may  be  made 
known  to  all  the  world.""'' 

Danti  must  have  undertaken  this  great  work  shortly  after 
his  arrival  in  Florence,  since  one  of  his  maps,  to  which 
Vasari  refers,  is  dated  1563,  and  it  appears  that  the  terres- 
trial globe  must  have  been  finished  by  1567,  since  the  gen- 
eral Depositaria  of  that  year,  as  cited  by  Badia,  records 
that  twenty  lire  were  paid  to  the  gold-leaf  maker,  Taddeo 
di  Francesco,  for  the  five  hundred  leaves  of  gold  to  be  used 
for  the  globe,  and  there  is  no  succeeding  entry  referring  to 
this  particular  piece  of  work."  We  know  that  he  never  com- 
pleted the  task  which  had  been  assigned  to  him.  Duke 
Cosimo's  death  occurred  in  the  year  1575,  and  his  son  and 
successor,  Francesco,  manifested  but  little  interest  in  fur- 
thering the  cause  of  science.  It  was  perhaps  at  the  instance 
of  Francesco  that  the  general   of  the  Dominican  Order 

[  161  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

directed  Danti  to  leave  Florence,  and  he  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  days  in  Bologna.  Apparently  but  thirty  of 
the  fifty-seven  maps  which  were  to  be  made  by  Danti  were 
completed  at  the  time  of  his  dismissal,  and  only  the  terres- 
trial globe.  As  evidence  that  he  did  not  construct  the  celes- 
tial globe,  Badia  cites  a  letter  written  by  Antonio  Lupicini 
to  the  Grand  Duke  Ferdinand,  dated  October  27,  1587. 
After  reference  to  certain  great  works  planned  by  Cosimo 
in  the  last  years  of  his  life,  such  as  those  referred  to  by 
Vasari,  he  adds  that  "when  it  seemed  that  nothing  else  was 
to  be  seen  in  the  room,  at  a  certain  sign  these  historical  rep- 
resentations disappeared  and  the  cosmography  of  the  whole 
mechanism,  constructed  after  the  manner  of  Ptolemy,  was 
uncovered ;  in  doing  so  they  opened  the  ceiling  and  let  down 
the  representations  of  the  planets,  resting  them  on  a  stand 
which  came  out  of  the  floor,  and  from  the  floor  also  appeared 
a  terrestrial  and  a  celestial  globe  each  three  and  a  half 
braccia  in  diameter,  one  of  which  had  been  made  by  Fra 
Ignazio,  and  the  model  of  which  I  myself  have.""^  The  ter- 
restrial globe,  at  first  placed  in  the  room  for  which  it  was 
intended,  was  later  removed  to  the  gallery,  where  on  account 
of  much  handling  it  was  greatly  injured,  and  in  the  year 
1 595  the  cosmographer,  Antonio  Santucci,  was  entrusted  with 
its  restoration.^''  Admired  as  it  has  been  for  more  than  three 
hundred  years,  on  account  of  its  size  and  excellent  workman- 
ship, repeatedly  handled  through  all  these  years  by  care- 
less visitors,  a  second  restoration  was  undertaken  a  few  years 
since  by  Ferdinando  Meucci,  director  of  the  museum  to 
which  it  finally  passed.  Meucci  directed  this  work  with  great 
care,  studying  minutely  the  construction  of  the  globe  under 
the  opportunity  thus  offered.  Fiorini,  citing  information 
especially  given  him  by  Meucci,^"  says  that  the  diameter 
of  this  globe  is  2.04  m. ;  that  the  ball  is  of  wood  having  a 
papier-mache  covering,  protected  without  by  a  wrapping  of 
cord  and  metal  plates,  and  that  it  is  very  substantially 
braced  within.  Danti  himself  in  describing  the  construction 

[  162  ] 


Third  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

of  the  globe,  on  receiving  an  order  for  a  similar  one,  says 
that  "the  surface  of  this  globe  is  thirty-six  square  braccia 
and  it  is  supported  within  by  an  iron  frame,  as  a  globe  of 
this  size  would  not  stand  without  bracing;  it  represents  a 
new  invention  by  means  of  which,  though  large,  it  can  be 
moved  in  every  direction  with  a  single  finger,  and  its  pole 
can  be  easily  elevated  or  depressed. "^^  These  Medici  globes, 
it  seems,  attracted  much  attention,  and  not  alone  in  Italy. 
Pontanus,  in  the  preface  of  his  edition  of  Hues'  Tractatus 
de  Globis,'  after  a  reference  to  the  celestial  globe  of  Tycho 
Brahe,  six  feet  in  diameter,  adds  that  Ferdinand  I  of  Tus- 
cany possessed  two  globes,  one  terrestrial  and  the  other 
an  armillary  sphere  with  circles  and  orbs,  and  that  these 
globes  were  constructed  by  the  same  hand.^^  This  last  state- 
ment we  now  know  to  be  an  error,  since  the  terrestrial  globe 
alone  was  the  work  of  Ignazio  Danti,  the  armillary  sphere 
being  the  work  of  Antonio  Santucci. 

The  Biblioteca  Nationale  of  Turin  possesses  a  unique  and 
highly  interesting  globe  signed  "Franciscus  Bassus  Medio- 
lanensis  feccit  1570,"  called  Basso  in  his  day,  although  his 
name  appears  to  have  been  Francesco  Pelliccioni  or  Piliz- 
zoni.^^  In  this  we  have  one  of  the  finest  examples  of  the 
style  of  constructing  and  ornamenting  metal  globes,  de- 
scribed by  Ruscelli  as  agemina,  in  which  gold  and  silver 
threads  and  plates  are  forced  into  the  engraved  outlines  on 
the  surface  of  the  ball. 

The  globe,  a  hollow  iron  sphere  about  56  cm.  in  diameter, 
is  in  an  excellent  state  of  preservation.  The  engraved  par- 
allels and  meridians  are  indicated  at  intervals  of  ten  degrees, 
the  prime  meridian  passing  through  the  Canary  Islands.  It 
has  thus  been  described  by  the  librarian,  Francesco  Carta  :^* 
"The  parts  of  the  globe  in  gold  are  the  equator,  the  tropics, 
the  polar  circles  and  many  mountain  chains;  the  known  and 
the  unknown  polar  regions  are  flaked  with  gold.  In  gold  are 
the  crowns  which  designate  the  several  kingdoms,  the  small 
islands  and  the  graduated  prime  meridian.  In  gold  and  silver 

[  163  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

are  the  ships  which  sail  the  se?s,  the  smaller  being  entirely 
of  gold.  The  ecliptic,  the  meridians  excepting  the  prime 
meridian,  the  parallels,  the  majority  of  the  mountain  chains 
of  the  unknown  lands,  the  rivers,  as  well  as  the  outlines 
of  the  lands  and  the  seas.  On  the  graduated  horizon  circle 
are  the  Latin  names  of  the  winds  in  silver  capital  letters. 
These  are  the  twelve  winds  of  Timostenc.  A  graduated 
metal  meridian  passes  through  the  poles  and  is  attached  to 
the  rational  horizon  which  is  supported  by  four  small  pyram- 
idal columns  having  quadrangular  bases.  At  the  top,  and 
fastened  to  the  framework  of  the  globe  with  a  silver  ribbon, 
is  a  silver  heart  having  extended  wings,  the  feathers  of  which 
are  of  gold  and  silver.  From  this  heart  rises  a  small  gilded 
design  representing  an  olive  branch,  having  leaves  of  gold. 
From  the  lower  part  of  the  support  hang  silver  ribbons 
flaked  with  gold."  Practically  all  inscriptions  are  in  silver 
capital  letters,  the  majority  being  in  Latin,  but  a  few  are 
in  Italian  and  in  Spanish.  To  North  America  which  is  con- 
nected with  Asia,  in  accord  with  the  idea  so  prevalent  in 
the  second  quarter  of  the  century,  is  given  the  name  "Asia 
magna  quae  India  boreal  is,"  and  to  South  America  the  name 
"America  Nova."  In  addition  to  the  above  inscriptions  we 
find  such  as  "Hispania  Major,"  "G.  d.  Anian,"  "Oceanus 
Indicus,"  "Sinus  Magnus  Aphricae."  In  Brazil  is  the  in- 
scription, "His  Leoni  Copia,"  The  inscription  "Terra  Aus- 
tralis  recenter  inventa  anno  1499,  sed  nondum  plene  cognita 
terra,"  closely  resembles  an  inscription  similarly  placed  on 
the  world  map  of  Orontius  Finaeus  of  1531,  which  reads 
"Terra  Austral  is  recenter  inventa  sed  nondum  plene  cog- 
nita."^°  It  does  not  appear  that  great  scientific  value  attaches 
to  this  globe,  since  there  clearly  was  no  attempt  to  produce 
a  terrestrial  map  to  date.  It,  however,  is  a  most  interesting 
example  of  globe  construction  in  a  day  when  globes  were 
so  much  in  favor. 

The  Lancisiana  Biblioteca  of  Rome  possesses  an  artisti- 
cally constructed  armillary  sphere,  apparently  the  work  of 

[  164  ] 


Third  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

Giovanni  Maria  Barrocci,  who,  in  the  second  half  of  the 
sixteenth  century,  achieved  distinction  as  a  maker  of  watches 
and  of  mathematical  instruments.  Fiorini  gives  reason  for 
thinking  this  to  be  of  about  the  year  1570,  as  well  as  reason 
for  attributing  the  work  to  Barrocci,^^  finding  it  in  an  epi- 
taph of  a  member  of  the  family  in  which  there  is  allusion 
to  the  construction  of  a  celestial  globe  for  Pope  Pius  V. 

Two  globes,  one  celestial  attributed  to  Hieronymo  de 
Boncompagni,  and  one  terrestrial  attributed  to  Emanuele 
Filiberto  and  probably  constructed  about  the  year  1 570,  are 
briefly  referred  to  by  Fiorini  as  belonging  to  the  Osserva- 
torio  del  Collegio  Romano.^^  Further  reference  to  these 
globes  has  not  been  obtainable,  there  being  no  mention  of 
the  same  in  a  communication  received  by  the  author  from 
this  observatory. 

The  Biblioteca  Nationale  Vittorio  Emanuele  of  Rome 
possesses  two  remarkably  fine  manuscript  globes,  a  terres- 
trial and  a  celestial,  the  latter  bearing  the  inscription  "Anno 
JobeP^  1575  ^d  que  supputatae  sunt  stellae."  "In  the  Jubi- 
lee year  for  which  the  positions  of  the  stars  have  been  com- 
puted." While  not  giving  with  certainty  the  exact  date  of 
their  construction,  it  seems  that  it  could  not  have  been  later 
than  that  given  in  the  legend.  The  globes  bear  the  coat  of 
arms  of  the  Jesuits,  which  may  only  suggest  that  the  maker 
was  a  member  of  that  order.  Each  of  these  globes,  or  globe 
balls,  is  constructed  of  a  wooden  framework,  covered  with 
a  preparation  of  plaster,  over  which  has  been  added  a  coat 
of  thick  varnish.  On  the  surface  thus  prepared  the  map  has 
been  drawn  and  painted  in  colors.  Each  has  a  diameter  of 
about  70  cm.,  is  mounted  on  a  pyramidal  base,  77  cm.  in 
height,  from  which  rises  a  rod  45  cm.  in  length,  supporting 
two  semicircles  which  serve  as  a  direct  base  support  for 
the  iron  horizon  circle.  The  celestial  globe  has  represented  on 
its  surface  the  equator,  the  tropics,  the  polar  circles,  the 
colures,  the  ecliptic,  and  the  zodiac,  and  the  figures  repre- 
senting the  several  constellations.  These  figures  are  very 

[  165  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

artistically  painted,  having  their  several  names  written  in 
gold  in  the  Latin  language;  some  figures  and  names  unfor- 
tunately are  wanting  by  reason  of  injury  to  the  surface  of 
the  globe.  On  the  terrestrial  globe  the  equator,  the  tropics, 
and  the  polar  circles  are  represented,  while  but  two  merid- 
ians are  indicated,  the  prime  meridian  passing  through  the 
Canary  Islands  while  the  other  has  been  drawn  ninety  de- 
grees from  this,  that  is,  cuts  it  at  right  angles  at  the  poles. 

The  Biblioteca  Laurentiana  of  Florence  possesses  four 
small  armillary  spheres,  bearing  neither  date  nor  author 
legends. ^^  The  larger  of  these  has  a  diameter  of  about  32 
cm.,  is  of  brass,  and  rests  upon  an  artistic  support  composed 
of  a  group  of  bronze  satyrs.  The  other  three,  by  reason  of 
their  close  resemblance,  appear  to  be  the  work  of  the  same 
artist.  Each  has  a  diameter  of  about  23  cm.  and  a  base  of 
brass  on  which  stands  a  small  bronze  statue,  which  bears  on 
its  shoulders  a  globe.  This  globe  supports  the  several 
circles  composing  the  armillar\'  sphere.  The  supporting 
statue  in  one  of  these  is  clad  and  is  represented  as  wearing 
sandals  on  the  feet,  supposedly  representing  the  mythical 
Atlas.  In  another  of  these  the  statue  is  that  of  a  man  resting 
on  the  right  knee  with  the  left  hand  uplifted,  while  in  the 
third  the  statue  is  that  of  a  woman  resting  upon  the  left 
knee,  having  the  right  hand  uplifted.  These  globes  are  re- 
ported as  not  being  in  good  condition,  but  each  exhibits 
artistic  merit  of  a  high  order. 

There  is  likewise  to  be  found  in  the  Biblioteca  Nationale 
of  Florence  a  small  celestial  globe  of  bronze,  and  a  celestial 
and  terrestrial  globe  of  silver.  These  globes  are  neither 
signed  nor  dated  but  are  thought  to  belong  to  the  period 
now  under  consideration.  The  bronze  globe  has  the  con- 
stellations represented  in  relief.  It  is  exceedingly  small, 
having  a  diameter  of  about  10  cm.  The  silver  globes  have 
diameters  about  half  the  preceding,  or  about  4.5  cm.  They 
are  furnished  with  horizon  and  meridian  circles,  and  have 
mountings  which  clearly  are  modern.  The  several  constella- 

[  166  ] 


Third  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

tions  represented  on  the  celestial  globe  are  exceedingly  well 
done,  as  are  all  of  the  decorative  figures  appearing  on  the 
terrestrial  globe.  Geographical  names  are  necessarily  few 
because  of  the  size  of  the  globe. 

Attention  has  been  called  to  the  references  which  Ruscelli 
makes  in  his  'Geografia'  to  globe  construction.*"  Notice  may 
likewise  here  be  called  to  a  similar  reference,  though  much 
more  brief,  made  by  Francesco  Maurolico,  a  native  of  Mes- 
sina, and  often  referred  to  as  the  new  Archimedes,  because 
of  his  great  fame  acquired  in  the  field  of  mathematics  and 
astronomy.  In  his  work,  published  in  the  year  1575,"  he 
devoted  part  of  one  chapter  to  the  subject  "De  sphaera 
solida,"  describing  the  construction  of  a  celestial  globe,  and 
the  use  of  the  same.  We  have  no  evidence  that  he  was  ever 
engaged  in  the  construction  of  such  instruments  as  aids  in 
the  study  of  his  science. 

Lastly,  in  this  chapter,  mention  may  be  made  of  the  work 
of  Mario  Cartaro.  It  appears  that  with  his  work  that  of 
the  Italian  globe  makers  of  the  century  practically  came  to 
a  close;  the  names  of  but  two  or  three  appear  in  the  last 
quarter. 

Cartaro  first  achieved  distinction  as  a  designer  and  en- 
graver in  Rome,  where  he  issued  a  work  containing  the  por- 
traits of  the  first  twenty-four  Roman  Emperors."  From 
Rome  it  appears  that  he  went  to  Naples,  where  he  continued 
to  reside  until  the  time  of  his  death.  That  he  was  much 
favored  in  Naples  is  attested  by  the  fact  that  he  was  given 
a  commission  to  design  or  to  represent  all  places  and  plants 
in  the  kingdom,  and  to  receive  for  the  same  "ten  scudi  per 
month. "*^  It  is  probable  that  as  a  result  of  this  commission 
we  have  that  fine  manuscript  atlas  of  thirteen  maps  now 
belonging  to  the  Biblioteca  Nationale  of  Naples,  represent- 
ing the  provinces  of  the  kingdom  and  signed  "M.  Cartaro 
F.  1613.""  This  manuscript  gives  striking  evidence  of  his 
cartographical  ability.  The  manuscript  is  of  paper,  its  first 
map  representing  the  ancient  kingdom  of  Naples,  on  which 

[  167  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

is  placed  the  Spanish  coat  of  arms.  The  remaining  twelve 
represent  the  following  named  provinces :  Terra  di  Lavorro, 
Principato  Citra,  Principato  Ultra,  Basilicata,  Calabria 
Citra,  Calabria  Ultra,  Terra  d'Otranto,  Terra  di  Bari,  Capi- 
tanata,  Contado  di  Molise,  Abruzzo  Citra,  Abruzzo  Ultra. 

Cartaro's  globes  are  of  solid  wood  about  16  cm.  in  diam- 
eter, the  balls  being  covered  with  engraved  gore  maps.  On 
his  celestial  globes  appears  the  inscription,  "Marius  Cartarus 
Viterbensis  Autor  incidebat  Romae  cil  priv.  1577."  The 
twelve  or  rather  twenty-four  half  gores,  since  they  are  cut  on 
the  line  of  the  ecliptic,  are  copper  engraved.  The  equator, 
the  tropics,  the  polar  circles,  and  the  colures  are  represented, 
the  ecliptic  and  the  equator  being  graduated,  the  degrees  be- 
ing alternately  colored  red  and  yellow.  The  several  constella- 
tions are  well  drawn,  are  colored  yellow  with  shading,  and 
stand  out  prominently  against  a  blue  background  represent- 
ing the  sky.  His  terrestrial  globes  bear  the  inscription 
"Marius  Cartarus  Viterbensis  Autor  incidebat  Romae  MD- 
LXXVII  cum  privilegio,"  the  gores  being  divided,  as  in  the 
preceding,  into  twenty-four.  Meridians  and  parallels  are 
drawn  at  intervals  of  fifteen  degrees,  alternate  degrees  being 
colored  red  and  yellow,  the  prime  meridian  passing  through 
the  Canary  Islands  and  being  graduated.  In  the  Osservatorio 
del  Collegio  Romano  may  be  found  two  copies  of  the  celes- 
tial and  one  example  of  the  terrestrial  globe,  one  of  the 
former  once  belonging  to  the  astronomer,  Virgilio  Spada,  and 
later  to  the  Biblioteca  Vallicelliana.  Neither  of  these  globes 
is  well  preserved,  the  original  mountings  are  wanting,  and 
each  rests  on  a  base  of  wood  which  has  been  merely  designed 
to  serve  as  a  support. 

A  copy  of  the  celestial  globe  may  be  found  in  the  Museo 
di  Strumenti  Antichi  of  Florence,  which  was  presented  to 
the  museum  by  the  Grand  Duke  Leopold  I.  This  example  is 
reported  to  be  in  good  condition,  being  mounted  on  a  base  of 
wood,  and  having  a  horizon  and  a  meridian  circle  of  wood, 
both  of  which  are  graduated.  On  the  horizon  appear  the 

[  168  ] 


Fig.  69.  Terrestrial  Globe  of  Mario  Cartaro,  1577. 


Third  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

names  of  the  eight  principal  winds,  with  representations  of 
the  wind  heads  having  distended  cheeks. 

A  fairly  well-preserved  example  of  the  terrestrial  globe 
(Fig.  69)  was  recently  purchased  by  Mr.  Reed  of  New  York 
City,  by  whose  courteous  permission  it  was  photographed  for 
reproduction  in  this  work.  It  has  a  single  pedestal  base  which 
is  gilded,  is  furnished  with  horizon  and  meridian  circles,  the 
former  being  supported  by  two  semicircles,  which  in  turn 
rest  on  the  pedestal  base.  Practically  all  of  the  inscriptions 
are  in  capitals,  and  all  of  the  work  of  the  engraver  has 
been  very  artistically  done.  The  outline  of  the  New  World 
resembles  closely  that  given  by  Mercator  and  by  Zaltiari. 
In  North  America  we  find  interestingly  represented  a  great 
lake  drained  by  two  rivers,  apparently,  but  not  accurately 
drawn  as  the  Mississippi  and  the  St.  Lawrence.  The  south- 
western part  is  called  "Nova  Spagna,"  Mexico  is  designated 
as  "Nova  Galitia";  in  the  northeast  we  find  "La  Nova 
Franza,"  and  "Terra  de  Noriibeca,"  and  in  the  southeast 
"Florida,"  although  the  peninsula  is  not  well  drawn.  South 
America  bears  the  name  "America,"  so  drawn  as  practically 
to  cover  the  continent,  and  in  addition  we  find  "Castiglia  de 
Loro,"  "Para,"  "Peru  Provin,"  "Chili,"  and  lake  "Tichia," 
located  well  inland.  It  will  be  noted  in  the  reproduction  that 
the  sphere  is  well  shot  through  by  the  industrious  book-  or 
woodworm. 


NOTES 

1.  See  his  catalogue  No.  XLII,  item  133;  also  catalogue  No.  L,  Item  327. 
Nordenskiold.  Facsimile  Atlas.  Plate  XL  reproduces  the  terrestrial  globe 
gores. 

2.  Marcel,  G.  Frangols  De  Mongenet,  geographe  franc-comtois.  (In:  Bul- 
letin de  geographle,  historique  et  descriptive.  Paris,  1889.  pp.  31-40.)  ; 
Giinther,  S.  Die  mathematlschen  Sammlung  des  Gesmanischen  Museums  zu 
Niirnberg.  (In:  Leopoldina,  Heft  14,  p.  110.) 

3.  See  above,  p.  129. 

[    169   ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

4.  Vasari,  op.  cit.,  Vol.  Ill,  pp.  500,  512,  514. 

5.  Ruscelli,  G.  La  geografia  di  Claudio  Tolomeo  Alessandrlno  monumente 
tradotta  di  greco  in  italiano.  Venezia,  1561.  p.  32. 

6.  See  above,  p.  122. 

7.  Joppi,  V.  Pittori  e  scultori.  Venezia,  1881.  p.  86. 

8.  Fiorini,  M.  Le  projezioni  delle  carte  geografiche.  Bologna,  1881.  Chap, 
vi,  §5;  same  author.  Le  projezioni  cordiformi  nella  Cartografia.  (In:  Bol- 
letino  della  Societa  Geogr^fica  Italiana.  Roma,  1889.  pp.  554-579.) 

9.  Joppi,  op.  cit.,  pp.  71  ff. 

10.  The  title-page  reads,  Delia  grandezza  della  terra  et  dell'  acqua. 
Trattato  di  M.  Alessandro  Piccolomini,  nuovamente  mandato  in  luce  all' 
Illustr.  et  Rev.  S.  Monsig.  M.  Jacomo  Cocco  Arcivescovo  di  Corfu.  Con 
privilegio.  In  Venetia  MDLVIII. 

11.  Cardella.  Memorie  storiche  dei  Cardinali  della  Santa  Romana  Chiesa. 
Roma,  1792.  Tom.  IV,  p.  233. 

12.  Cardella,  op.  cit.,  Tom.  IV,  p.  173. 

13.  Cardella,  op.  cit.,  Tom.  IV,  p.  287. 

14.  Ruscelli,  op.  cit.  See  that  section  appearing  as  a  second  part  or  appen- 
dix to  this  work  titled  "Espositioni  et  introductioni."  Chap.  ii. 

15.  Sanuto.  Geografia  di  Livio  Sanuto  distinta  in  XII  libri.  Vinezia,  1588. 

16.  Ruscelli.  Espositioni.  Chap.  iii. 

17.  Ruscelli.  Geografia.  pp.  58,  59. 

18.  Vasari,  op.  cit..  Vol.  II,  p.  65. 

19.  Fiorini.  Sfere  terrestri  e  celesti.  p.  218. 

20.  Inventario  del  Reale  Gabinetto  redatto  nel  1776,  Vol.  II,  n.  175. 

21.  Doppelmayr,  op.  cit.,  p.  75;  Gerland,  E.  Beitrage  zur  Geschichte  der 
Physik.  (In:  Leopoldina,  Heft  18,  p.  69.);  Weidler,  J.  F.  Historia  astro- 
nomiae.  Vitembergae,  1741.  p.  390;  Drechsler,  A.  Katalog  der  Sammlung 
des  Konigl.-Mathematisch-Physikalischen  Salon  zu  Dresden.  Dresden,  1874. 

P-  53- 

22.  Doppelmayr,  op.  cit.,  pp.  83-90. 

23.  Drechsler,  op.  cit.,  pp.  53,  54;  Gerland,  op.  cit.,  p.  68. 

24.  Del  Badia,  J.  Egnazio  Danti  cosmografo  e  matematico.  Firenze,  1882 ; 
Marchese,  R.  Memorie  dei  piu  illustri  pittori,  scultori  ed  architetti  Domi- 
nicani.  Bologna,  1879.  Vol.  II,  p.  357  ;  Porena,  F.  La  Geografia  in  Roma 
e  il  mappamondo  Vaticano.  (In :  Boll,  della  Societa  Geografica  Italiana. 
Roma,  1888.  pp.  221  ff.) 

25.  Uzielli,  G.  L'epistolario  Colombo-Toscanelliano  e  di  Danti.  (In: 
Boll,  della  Societa  Geografica  Italiana.  Roma,  1889.  p.  836.)  In  this  the 
author  refers  to  the  numerous  editions  of  Sacrobosco  translated  by  Rinaldi. 

26.  Vasari,  op.  cit..  Vol.  V,  pp.  493-496. 

27.  Del  Badia,  op.  cit.,  p.  30. 

28.  Del  Badia,  op.  cit.,  p.  28. 

29.  Del  Badia,  op.  cit.,  p.  31. 

30.  Fiorini.  Sfere  terrestri  e  celesti.  p.  179. 

31.  Tiraboschi,  G.  Storia  della  litteratura  italiana.  Roma,  1873.  Tom. 
VII,  pt.  I,  lib.  ii,  p.  439. 

32.  Hues,  R.  Tractatus  de  globis  coelesti  et  terrestri  eorumque  usu. 
Amstelodame,  1617.  Ed.  by  Joannis  Isaci  Pontanus.  See  the  Preface. 

33.  Moriggia,  R.  P.  F.  La  nobilita  di  Milano.  Milano,  1595.  Lib.  V,  cap. 
xvii. 

34.  Fiorini.  Sfere  terrestri  e  celesti.  p.  184;  Kretschmer,  K.  Die  Entdeckung 

[    170   ] 


Third  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

Amerikas   in   ihrer   Bedeutung  fiir  die   Geschichte   des   Weltbildes.   Berlin, 
1892.  p.  436,  and  Tav.  xxix. 

35.  Nordenskiold.  Facsimile  Atlas,  plate  XLI. 

36.  Fiorini.  Sfere  terrestri  e  celesti.  p.  220. 

37.  Fiorini.  Sfere  terrestri  e  celesti.  p.  284. 

38.  The  word  "Jobel"  is  thought  to  mean  jubilee. 

39.  Fiorini.  Sfere  terrestri  e  celesti.  pp.  497-500. 

40.  See  above,  n.  5,  14. 

41.  His  work  bears  the  title  D.  Francisci  Maurolyci  Abbatis  Messanensis 
Opuscula  mathematica  nunc  primum  in  lucem  edita.  Venetiis,  1575. 

42.  Gori-Gandellini,   G.   Notizie    storiche   degli   intagliatori.   Siena,    1771. 
Tom.  I,  p.  25. 

43.  Archivo    Storico    della    Provincie    Napoletane.    Anno    primo    Napoli. 
1876.  p.  405. 

44.  Fiorini.  Sfere  terrestri  e   celesti.  p.    191.  See  for  catalogue   reference 
Sala  dei  MSS.  ScafFale  XII,  palchetto  D,  n.  100. 


[    171    ] 


Chapter  IX 

Globes  and  Globe  Makers  of  the  Last 
Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century 

Brief  summary  of  sixteenth-century  globe  making. — The  close  of 
the  century  introducing  us  to  the  great  Dutch  globe  makers. — 
The  clock  maker  Dasypodius. — Peter  and  Philip  Apianus. — The 
armillary  sphere  of  Carlus  Platus. — Roll  and  Reinhold. — Tycho 
Brahe  and  his  influence. — Titon  du  Tillet. — The  terrestrial  globe 
of  Rouen. — Globes  of  Emery  Molyneux. — Globes  of  Biirgi. — 
Zurich  globe. — Beaker  globes. — Ivory  globe  of  Antonio  Spano. — 
The  Van  Langren  globes. — Santucci. — B.  F.  globe  of  Dresden. 

IN  the  last  three  chapters  attention  has  been  called  to  the 
globes  and  globe  makers  of  the  earlier  years  of  the  six- 
teenth century,  special  mention  having  been  made  in 
Chapters  VI  and  VII  of  the  notions  entertained  concerning 
the  geography  of  the  New  World  as  exhibited  in  the  terres- 
trial globe  maps.  In  the  first  quarter  of  the  century,  as  was 
stated,  the  newly  discovered  lands  were  represented  as  hav- 
ing no  geographical  connection  with  the  Old  World,  and 
with  few  exceptions  the  two  continents  of  the  western  hemi- 
sphere were  separated  from  each  other  either  by  a  strait  or 
by  a  wide  expanse  of  ocean.  In  the  second  quarter  of  the 
century  the  belief  seemed  to  have  found  very  general  accep- 
tance that  the  New  World  was  but  a  prolongation  or  east- 
ward extension  of  the  Asiatic  continent,  a  belief  which  found 
expression  in  the  plane  as  well  as  in  the  globe  maps.  Ex- 
ceptions to  such  belief  were  likewise  noted,  as  was  also  the 
inclination  manifesting  itself  in  this  second  quarter  to  return 

[  172  1 


Last  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

to  the  earher  notions,  that  a  great  body  of  water  separated 
Asia  from  the  northern  continent,  in  the  spread  of  which 
notion  Mercator  seems  to  have  exerted  a  dominating  influ- 
ence. In  the  third  quarter  of  the  century  the  globe  maps  indi- 
cate that  a  belief  in  the  independent  position  of  the  New 
World  had  again  found  very  general  acceptance,  although 
there  appeared  now  and  then  an  expression  in  the  maps  that 
the  theory  of  an  Asiatic  connection  still  lingered.  In  this 
third  quarter  it  was  the  Italian  globe  makers  who  were  the 
most  active,  yet  it  must  be  admitted  that  the  majority  of 
the  globes  produced  in  these  years  in  the  peninsula  were  not 
of  striking  importance.  In  the  literature  of  the  period,  refer- 
ences to  globes  which  were  constructed,  and  which  appear 
to  have  been  well  known,  are  not  infrequent,  but  one  is 
inclined  to  a  belief,  based  upon  these  references,  and  upon 
those  globes  which  are  extant,  that  time  has  destroyed  the 
best  of  them. 

The  records  of  the  last  quarter  of  the  century,  of  which 
we  come  now  to  speak  in  this  chapter,  seem  to  show  a  decline 
of  interest  in  globe  making  among  the  Italians,  the  exam- 
ples of  their  work  left  to  us  being  exceedingly  few.  We  note 
a  rising  interest  and  activity  in  globe  making  in  the  North 
in  this  period,  which  reaches  a  climax  during  the  early  years 
of  the  seventeenth  century  in  the  splendid  work  given  out 
by  the  great  masters  of  the  Netherlands.  A  well-merited 
fame  especially  crowns  the  labors  of  members  of  the  Van 
Langren,  the  Blaeu,  and  the  Hondius  families.^ 

Although  remembered  chiefly  for  his  part  in  the  con- 
struction of  the  famous  Strassburg  cathedral  clock,  Conrad 
Dasypodius  (15301600)  can  also  claim  a  place  among  the 
globe  makers  of  his  day,  that  is,  of  the  period  we  now  have 
under  consideration.^  He  was  the  son  of  Petrus  Dasypodius, 
a  native  of  Frauenfeld  in  Switzerland,  whose  name  origi- 
nally was  Rauhfuss  or  Hasenfuss,  and  who  for  some  years 
held  a  position  as  professor  of  the  Greek  language  in  Zurich. 
In  the  year  1530  he  removed  to  Strassburg  to  accept  a  similar 

I  173  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

position  in  the  Strassburg  Academy,  where  he  died  in  the 
year  1 559.  Young  Conrad,  after  an  association  for  a  period 
with  the  then  famous  Strassburg  mathematician.  Christian 
Herlin,^  as  his  favorite  pupil,  traveled  extensively,  going  to 
Paris  and  later  to  Lyons,  where  he  continued  his  mathemati- 
cal studies.  In  October,  1562,  he  became  the  successor  of 
Herlin,  and  in  the  year  1563  canon  of  St.  Thomas.  To  the 
impulse  which  he  contributed  to  mathematical  studies  is 
due  the  high  place  held  for  a  considerable  period  by  the 
Strassburg  Academy.*  It  is  a  part  of  his  great  service  that 
he  not  only  encouraged  the  study  of  the  Greek  mathemati- 
cians, but  he  also  was  especially  interested  in  having  their 
works  brought  to  the  attention  of  the  public  through  their 
reissue,  especially  the  works  of  Euclid.  The  list  of  Dasypo- 
dius'  publications^  is  a  long  one  and  is  such  as  to  place  him 
among  the  foremost  scholars  of  his  day,  but  it  was,  however, 
his  astronomical  clock,  noted  above,  which  brought  him  spe- 
cial renown  in  the  larger  circles.  It  was  near  the  middle  of 
the  fourteenth  century  that  the  first  clock,  which  was  of 
wood,  was  constructed  for  the  cathedral,  but  time  had 
wrought  its  destructive  work,  and  as  early  as  1547  a  com- 
mission was  appointed  to  consider  the  question  of  its  res- 
toration, and  of  this  commission  Christian  Herlin  was  a 
prominent  member.  His  death  in  the  year  1562  left  the  plan 
incomplete,  and  eight  years  passed  before  his  pupil,  Dasypo- 
dius,  was  successful  in  urging  the  magistrates  of  the  city  to 
take  up  the  work  anew.  In  the  year  1 570,  through  his  advice, 
two  young  globe  makers  of  Schaffhausen,  Isaac  and  Josias 
Habrecht,*'  who  had  given  aid  to  their  father  in  the  construc- 
tion of  the  "Frohnwaagthurm  Uhr"  of  the  last-named  city, 
together  with  the  Schaffhausen  artists,  Tobias  and  Josias 
Stimmer,^  were  invited  to  take  up  the  work  under  his  super- 
vision. At  the  end  of  three  years  the  clock  was  completed 
and  soon  came  to  be  referred  to  as  one  of  the  seven  wonders 
of  Germany.  "Truly  a  masterpiece,"  said  Montucla,  "and 
the  first  of  its  kind  in  all  Europe  by  reason  of  the  numerous 

[  174  ] 


Fig.  70.  Strassburg  Clock  and  Globe  of  Conrad  Dasypodius,  1574. 


Last  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

movements  which  it  executes."^  In  the  year  1580  a  descrip- 
tion of  the  same  was  prepared  and  published  by  Dasypodius 
himself.^  Although  calling  for  frequent  repairs  the  clock 
continued  running  until  the  year  1789,  when  it  ceased,  and 
after  fifty  years  had  passed  the  old  mechanism  was  replaced 
by  new,  the  work  of  Schwilgue."  Remarkable  as  is  the  entire 
masterpiece,  it  is  the  globes  with  which  Dasypodius  fur- 
nished it  that  especially  interest  us  here.  At  the  base  of  the 
clock  is  placed  a  celestial  sphere  (Fig.  70)  three  feet  in 
diameter,  supported  by  four  columns  of  wood  richly  carved. 
On  the  surface  appear  the  forty-eight  Ptolemaic  constella- 
tions, each  constellation  having  its  appropriate  figure,  and 
the  1022  stars  which  had  been  located  in  Ptolemy's  day.  The 
globe  is  so  connected  with  the  machinery,  by  which  the 
various  parts  of  the  clock  are  made  to  perform  their  func- 
tions, that  it  makes  one  revolution  on  its  axis  every  twenty- 
four  hours,  thus  representing  the  rising  and  the  setting  of  the 
several  celestial  bodies.  Two  circles  were  added,  one  carrying 
the  sun  and  the  other  the  moon,  adjusted  so  as  to  turn  about 
the  globe,  the  first  in  twenty-four  hours,  and  the  second  in 
about  twenty-five.  The  arrangement  of  the  movements,  it 
appears,  was  not  greatly  altered  in  the  reconstruction  of 
1838-1842,  and  the  clock,  as  it  now  stands,  is  thus  described 
by  Britten:  "On  the  fioor  level  is  a  celestial  globe  indicating 
siderial  time.  In  its  motion  round  its  axis  the  globe  carries 
with  it  the  circles  that  surround  it — namely,  the  equator,  the 
ecliptic,  the  solstitial  and  equinoctial  colures,  while  the  me- 
ridian and  horizon  circles  remain  motionless,  so  that  there 
are  shown  the  rising  and  the  setting,  as  well  as  the  passage 
over  the  meridian  of  Strassburg,  of  all  stars  that  are  visible 
to  the  naked  eye,  and  which  appear  above  the  horizon.  Be- 
hind the  celestial  globe  is  the  calendar;  on  a  metallic  band, 
nine  inches  wide  and  thirty  feet  in  circumference,  are  the 
months  and  the  days  of  the  months,  Dominical  letters,  fixed 
and  movable  feast  days.  The  band  is  shifted  at  midnight, 
and  a  statue  of  Apollo  points  out  the  day  of  the  month  and 

[  175  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

the  name  of  the  saint  corresponding  to  that  day.  The  inter- 
nal part  of  the  annular  band  indicates  true  solar  time,  the 
rising  and  the  setting  of  the  sun,  the  diurnal  motion  of  the 
moon  around  the  earth,  and  its  passage  over  the  meridian, 
the  phases  of  the  moon  and  the  eclipses  of  the  sun  and 
moon.  Adjacent  compartments  are  devoted  to  a  perpetual 
calendar,  solar  and  lunar  cycles  and  other  periodic  occur- 
rences, solar  and  lunar  equations,  etc.  Above  the  calendar 
appear  allegorical  figures,  seated  in  chariots,  and  represent- 
ing the  days  of  the  week.  These  chariots,  drawn  by  such 
animals  as  are  assigned  as  attributes  of  the  divinities,  run 
on  a  circular  railway  and  appear  each  in  order.  In  the  story- 
above  the  globe  is  a  planetarium  in  which  the  revolutions 
of  the  planets  are  represented  upon  a  large  dial  plate,  and 
above  the  planetarium,  and  upon  a  star-decked  sky,  is  a 
globe  devoted  to  showing  the  phases  of  the  moon.  In  the 
second  story  of  the  clock  has  been  placed  a  terrestrial  globe, 
which  likewise  is  adjusted  to  revolve  in  representation  of 
the  revolution  of  the  earth."" 

Peter  Apianus  (BienewitzorBennewitz)  (1495-1552)  was 
a  native  of  Leisnig,  Saxony.^^  His  earliest  education  was 
received  in  the  village  of  Roschlitz,  but  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
three  he  entered  the  University  of  Leipzig,  where  it  appears 
that  astronomy  and  mathematics  chiefly  claimed  his  interest 
(Fig.  71 ).  In  1527  he  received  and  accepted  an  appointment 
as  professor  of  mathematics  in  the  University  of  Ingolstadt, 
and  in  1541,  for  his  distinguished  abilities,  he  was  ennobled 
by  the  Emperor  Charles  V.  In  addition  to  the  fame  acquired 
through  his  mathematical  treatises  he  became  widely  known 
as  a  maker  of  physical  and  astronomical  instruments,  among 
which  were  celestial  globes.  Numerous  as  appear  to  have 
been  these  globes  of  his  construction,  no  example  at  present 
is  known  bearing  the  unmistakable  evidence  of  his  workman- 
ship. Clemens,  in  his  description  of  the  Library  of  the 
Escorial,^^  gives  us  to  understand  that  it  possessed  at  one 
time  one  or  more  Peter  Apianus  globes,  which  were  probably 

[  176  ] 


Fig.  71.  Portrait  of  Peter  Apianus. 


Last  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

carried  to  Spain  by  the  Emperor  himself.  It  seems  probable 
that  a  diligent  search  through  public  and  private  libraries 
and  museums  in  that  country  would  lead  to  the  discovery  of 
some  of  his  globes  or  mathematical  instruments. 

Kepler  tells  us  of  an  Apianus  globe  which  he  saw  on  a 
journey  from  Wiirtemberg  to  Gratz,  noting  that  it  was  so 
constructed  that  the  stars  could  be  removed  at  pleasure  from 
the  sphere."  Of  this  particular  globe  nothing  seems  now 
to  be  known.  It  is  thought  hardly  probable  that  the  one 
referred  to  by  Kepler  is  that  fine  celestial  Apianus  globe 
(Fig.  72)  belonging  to  the  K.  B.  Hof-  u.  Staats  Bibliothek  of 
Munich.  There  seems  to  be  scarcely  a  doubt  that  this,  as  its 
companion,  a  terrestrial  globe,  is  the  work  of  the  son  Philip. 
Repeated  inquiry  has  not  resulted  in  obtaining  definite 
answer  as  to  the  dimensions  of  these  globes  nor  a  description 
of  such  detailed  features  as  would  here  prove  of  interest. 
The  photographic  reproductions  show  them  to  be  of  remark- 
ably artistic  workmanship.  Each  is  furnished  with  a  heavy 
meridian  circle,  and  with  a  similarly  designed  horizon  circle 
supported  by  a  semicircle  which  rests  upon  an  elaborately 
constructed  base."  The  history  of  these  globes  seems  not  to 
be  known,  as  stated  above.  We  have  an  inventory  of  the 
Herzoglich-Bayrische  collection  of  mathematical  and  astro- 
nomical instruments,  prepared  by  the  Jesuit,  Fickler,  which 
contains,  page  147,  the  following  entry  relative  to  the  globes 
to  be  found  therein :  'Tolget  die  Tafi.  Nr.  34.  Daraus  stehen 
drey  grosser  hulzinen  Globi  Coelestes,  davon  d.  ain  in  einem 
messingen  gestell,  mit  ainem  messingem  zodiaco,  der  dritt 
von  mettall.  1777.  Sechs  grosser  Globi  terrestres  von  Holz. 
mit  mettallinen  zodiacis  1778.  Zwei  claine  Globi  der  ain 
Coelestis  der  ander  Terrestris,  auf  gedraxelten  holzen 
fuesslen."^^  "Next  in  order  is  table  No.  34.  On  this  there 
stand  three  large  celestial  globes  of  wood,  one  of  which  has 
a  base  of  brass,  with  a  brass  horizon  circle,  the  third  of 
metal,  1777.  There  are  six  large  terrestrial  globes  of  wood, 
with  metal  horizon  circles,   1778.  Two  small  globes,  one 

[  177  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

celestial,  the  other  terrestrial,  resting  on  turned  wooden 
feet."  It  will  be  noted,  however,  that  there  is  no  mention 
therein  of  Apianus  globes.  Kobalt  tells  us  that  Apianus 
"vertigte  allerley  mathematische  instrumente,  als  Cosmola- 
bium,  Globos  duos  Caeli  et  Terrae  maximos,  und  Plani- 
sphaerium,"  "constructed  many  kinds  of  mathematical  instru- 
ments such  as  astrolabes,  two  large  globes  celestial  and 
terrestrial  and  planispheres."  This  same  author  gives  us  the 
information  that  "in  der  k.  b.  Central-Bibliothek  befinden 
sich  zwei  grosse,  von  Apian  ververtigte  und  von  Johann 
Mielichs  gemalte  Globi  Coelestes  et  Terrestres,  worauf 
folgende  Inschrift  zo  lesen  ist,  'Illustrss  Seren.  Principi  ac 
Domino  D.  Alberto  Com.  Pal.  Rheni.  Sub.  Inf.  que  Bar. 
Duci  Domino  suo  Clementissimo  Globum  hunc  geographi- 
cum  eels,  ejus  jussu  juxta  veterum  ac  recentium  Historio- 
graphorum  Observationes  Traditionesque  Descr.  et  Ded. 
Philippus  Apianus  M.  D.  Anno  Salutis  1576.'  "  "In  the 
K.  B.  Central  Library  there  are  two  large  globes  celestial 
and  terrestrial  constructed  by  Apianus  and  painted  by 
Johan  Miielichs,  on  which  is  the  following  inscription: 
To  the  Most  Illustrious,  Most  Serene  Prince  and  Lord  D. 
Albert  Count  of  the  Rhenish  Palatinate,  etc.  His  Most 
Clement  Lord  this  celestial  globe  by  his  command,  fash- 
ioned according  to  the  observations  and  traditions  of  both 
ancient  and  modern  historiographers  dedicates  Philip 
Apianus  in  the  year  of  Salvation  1576.'  "^^  It  seems,  there- 
fore, probable,  from  the  above  citation,  that  it  was  the  son 
Philip  who  constructed  these  Munich  globes.  It  was  in  the 
year  1552  that  he  followed  his  father  as  professor  of  mathe- 
matics in  the  University  of  Ingolstadt  and  like  his  father 
soon  won  distinction  for  himself  as  cartographer,  producing 
his  famous  Bayrische  Landtafeln  as  his  first  work  of  note. 
It  seems  further  probable  that  shortly  after  this  work  he 
became  interested  in  globe  construction,  in  which  line  of 
activity  he  made  for  himself  a  place  of  first  rank. 

The  celestial  globe  referred  to  above  has  represented  on 

[  178  ] 


Fig.  72.  Globes  of  Philip  Apianus,  1576. 


Last  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

its  surface  the  several  Ptolemaic  constellations,  exquisitely 
colored,  and  the  stars  have  been  given  names  in  Greek, 
Latin,  and  Arabic.  The  terrestrial  globe  map  is  considerably 
injured,  especially  in  the  polar  regions,  but  the  continental 
and  other  outlines  are  all  clearly  traceable.  Three  large  com- 
pass roses,  of  ornamental  pattern,  are  placed  along  the  Line 
of  Demarcation.  The  coast  outline  of  Europe  is,  in  the  main, 
well  done,  as  is  that  of  Africa  and  the  New  World.  The 
Nile  and  the  Niger  rivers  no  longer  find  their  source  in  the 
same  common  lake.  The  representations  of  the  far  eastern 
regions  indicate  that  Apianus  had  a  fairly  good  knowledge 
of  the  records  of  the  Holland  explorers. 

A  fine  example  of  the  metal  worker's  art  of  this  period 
may  be  found  in  a  silvered  bronze  celestial  globe  (Fig.  73) 
belonging  to  the  Morgan  collection  recently  placed  in  the 
Metropolitan  Museum  of  New  York.  On  the  meridian  circle 
we  find  the  maker  and  date  legend  reading  "Gerhard 
Emmoser,  sac.  caes.  meis  horologiarius,  F.  Viennae  1579." 
The  sphere,  which  can  be  opened  on  the  line  of  the  eclip- 
tic, has  a  diameter  of  about  13  cm.  Within  has  been 
placed  a  delicately  constructed  mechanism  by  means  of 
which  the  sphere  is  made  to  rotate  once  in  twenty-four 
hours  on  its  equatorial  axis,  the  key  winding  stem  for  this 
machinery  projecting  at  the  north  pole  through  an  engraved 
hour  plate  with  pointer.  With  its  meridian  and  its  horizon 
circle  it  is  adjusted  to  make  one  revolution  in  three  hun- 
dred and  sixty-five  days.  A  stationary  ring,  about  2  cm.  in 
width,  which  closely  surrounds  the  horizon  circle  and  in  its 
same  plane,  fits  the  instrument  as  a  calendar.  This  ring  has 
engraved  on  its  surface  crossing  lines,  one  for  each  day  of  the 
year,  to  each  month  there  being  assigned  its  proper  number 
of  days  or  lines,  as,  for  example,  "October  habet  31  dies," 
"November  habet  30  dies."  As  the  sphere  with  its  circles 
revolves,  a  pointer  attached  to  the  horizon  circle  indi- 
cates on  the  calendar  ring  each  day  of  each  month  in 
succession.   The   surface   of   the   sphere   is  exquisitely   en- 

[  179  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

graved  with  representations  of  the  several  constellations, 
the  name  of  each  being  given  in  Latin.  The  instru- 
ment is  made  to  rest  upon  the  back  of  a  winged  horse 
in  silvered  bronze,  this  in  turn  standing  upon  an  artistic 
circle  base.  It  is  well  preserved  and  is  a  choice  example  of 
such  instruments,  which  in  this  period  were  in  particular 
favor. 

Carlus  Flatus,  a  maker  of  metal  globes  in  the  last  quar- 
ter of  the  sixteenth  century,  is  known  to  us  through  two  fine 
extant  examples  of  his  work.^®  The  first  of  these,  inscribed 
"Romae  a.  1578  Car.  PL,"  may  be  found  in  the  Museo  di 
Strumenti  Antichi  of  Florence,  having  been  added  to  this 
collection  by  its  former  distinguished  director,  F.  Meucci. 
The  horizon  diameter  of  this  armillary  sphere  is  about  21 
cm.  It  has  been  described  as  one  beautifully  constructed  of 
brass  and  mounted  on  a  carved  wooden  base.  The  circle 
representing  the  course  of  the  sun  and  that  made  to  represent 
the  course  of  the  moon  are  made  to  revolve  on  the  axis  of 
the  ecliptic,  and  a  small  ball,  of  recent  construction,  repre- 
senting the  earth,  is  placed  in  the  common  center  of  the 
armillae,  and  is  made  to  revolve  on  the  axis  of  the  equator. 
A  dial  attached  to  the  axis  of  the  earth  below  the  meridian 
circle  marks  the  hours,  which  are  engraved  on  the  Arctic 
polar  circle,  A  few  points  marked  on  the  colures  indicate  the 
position  of  the  principal  stars.  All  of  the  circles  have  been 
carefully  graduated.  On  that  one  representing  the  zodiac 
have  been  engraved  the  names  of  the  months  and  the  pictures 
of  the  several  zodiacal  figures,  while  on  the  horizon  circle 
are  the  names  of  the  principal  winds  in  Greek,  Latin,  and 
Italian. 

A  second  globe  of  Platus,  signed  "Carolus  Flatus  Romae 
Anno  1598,"  may  be  found  in  the  Biblioteca  Barbarini  of 
Rome,  It  is  composed  of  two  hollow  brass  hemispheres, 
making  a  ball  14  cm,  in  diameter,  which  is  surrounded  by 
a  brass  meridian  and  a  brass  horizon  circle,  the  whole  rest- 
ing on  a  tripod  base.  It  is  a  fine  example  of  an  early  metal 

[  180  ] 


Fig.  73.  Silver-Gilt  Globe  of  Gerhard  Emmoser,  1573. 


Last  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

engraved  globe,  the  representation  of  the  figures  of  the  con- 
stellations in  particular  being  done  in  a  very  superior  man- 
ner. On  the  surface  of  the  sphere  the  equator,  the  ecliptic, 
the  equinoctial,  and  the  solstitial  colures  are  represented. 
The  history  of  the  globe  seems  not  to  be  known,  but  it  is 
probable  that  it  came  to  the  Barbarini  Palace  in  the  time  of 
Pope  Urban  VIII,  who,  before  filling  his  pontifical  ofRce, 
was  known  as  Maffeo  Barbarini. 

Of  the  celestial  globes  constructed  by  George  Roll  and 
Joannes  Reinhold  three  examples  are  known.^**  One  of  these 
may  be  found  in  the  collection  of  the  Mathematical  Salon  of 
Dresden  (Fig.  74)  one  in  the  OsservatoriodiCapodimonteof 
Naples  and  one  in  the  K.  K.  Hofbibliothek  in  Vienna.  The 
Roll  and  Reinhold  globe  of  the  Dresden  collection,  bearing 
the  inscription  "Georg  Roll  et  Joannes  Reinhold  elaborabant 
Augustae  1586,"  is  an  exceedingly  interesting  instrument, 
unique  in  the  manner  of  its  construction  and  remarkably 
well  preserved.  It  is  of  brass,  having  a  diameter  of  36  cm., 
and  is  furnished  with  numerous  movable  circles,  a  large 
meridian  circle  surmounted  with  an  armillary  sphere,  and  a 
brass  horizon  circle  on  which  are  marked  the  old  and  the  new 
calendars,  the  names  of  the  twelve  months  and  of  the  impor- 
tant holy  days.  The  globe  base,  very  artistically  wrought, 
rests  upon  four  griffin's  feet,  between  which  a  small  terres- 
trial globe  10  cm.  in  diameter  has  been  placed,  this  having 
been  furnished  with  its  own  independent  support.  The  large 
celestial  sphere  is  furnished  with  a  clocklike  mechanism  by 
means  of  which  it  is  made  to  revolve  in  representation  of 
the  diurnal  motion  of  the  heavens.  According  to  existing 
records  it  was  purchased  in  the  year  1593  by  order  of  the 
Elector  Christian  II,  and  by  him  was  presented  to  the  Acad- 
emy of  Arts  of  Dresden.  Zeiller  tells  us  that  this  and  the 
Heyden  globe  were  those  "with  which  the  Prince  Elector 
Augustus  was  accustomed  to  amuse  himself." 

It  has  not  been  possible  to  obtain  a  description  of  the 
Vienna  globe.  It  appears  that  it  was  constructed  in  the  year 

[  181  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

1588,   and  that,  like  the  Dresden  example,   the  celestial 
sphere  is  made  to  revolve  by  means  of  clockwork. 

The  Roll  and  Reinhold  globe  belonging  to  the  Osserva- 
torio  di  Capodimonte,  according  to  Fiorini,  is  one  especially 
worthy  of  mention.'^  This  is  described  as  a  hollow  ball 
having  a  diameter  of  about  21  cm.  The  sphere  itself  is  made 
of  copper,  the  remaining  parts  of  gilded  brass.  The  horizon 
circle  is  composed  of  several  overlapping  brass  plates.  A 
clockwork  mechanism  is  supplied,  by  means  of  which  the 
sphere  and  certain  circles  may  be  made  to  revolve.  The  sur- 
face of  the  copper  sphere  is  artistically  engraved,  having 
numerous  circles  representing  the  ecliptic  system  with  its 
parallels  and  meridians,  and  the  equatorial  system  including 
its  five  zones.  The  Ptolemaic  constellations  are  represented, 
the  figure  of  each  being  engraved  in  outline  with  the  name 
in  Latin.  The  several  stars  are  not  named  but  near  each  is 
an  engraved  number  to  indicate  its  magnitude,  these  num- 
bers ranging  from  1  to  6.  Nebulae  are  distinguished  by  small 
circles,  and  the  Milky  Way  by  numerous  dots.  The  meridian 
circle,  in  which  the  sphere  revolves,  has  the  usual  graduation 
from  o  to  90,  but  has  in  addition  a  climatic  graduation 
designed  "Climata  ex  Ptolomeo,"  and  a  division  into  zones 
called  'Torrida  Zona,"  "Zona  habitabilis  temperata,"  and 
"Frigida  zona."  On  the  convex  surface  of  the  horizon  circle 
we  find  engraved  the  names  of  the  four  cardinal  points,  and 
on  the  upper  surface  of  this  circle  are  engraved  the  Julian 
and  the  Gregorian  calendars,  the  names  of  the  saints,  the 
dates  on  which  the  sun  enters  the  various  signs  of  the  zodiac, 
and  the  ancient  names  of  the  principal  winds.  The  globe 
mountings,  all  of  brass,  are  artistic  and  well  preserved. 
Like  the  Dresden  example  it  rests  upon  a  four-branched 
support,  the  extremities  of  each  branch  representing  the 
claws  of  the  griffin.  Including  the  base,  the  instrument  is 
43  cm.  in  height.  It  seems  not  to  be  known  when  or  how  this 
globe,  constructed  in  Augsburg,  found  its  way  to  the  Naples 

[  182  1 


Fig.  74.  Globe  of  George  Roll  and  Johannes  Reinhold,  1586. 


Last  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

Museum,  where  it  is  treasured  as  one  of  the  choicest  of 
ancient  astronomical  instruments. 

Tycho  Brahe,  the  great  Danish  astronomer  (Fig.  75), 
was  a  native  of  Knudtstrup  near  Helsingborg,  born  in  the 
year  1546."^  The  care  of  his  early  education  was  assumed 
by  an  uncle,  George  Brahe,  who  in  the  year  1559  sent  him 
to  the  Academy  of  Copenhagen  with  the  intention  of  fitting 
him  for  the  legal  profession.  Three  years  later  we  find  him 
registered  at  the  University  of  Leipzig,  then  famous  for  its 
department  of  jurisprudence.  Like  many  another  of  the 
world's  great  men  for  whom,  in  the  days  of  his  youth, 
interested  relatives  or  friends  have  chosen  a  life  career  only 
to  find  in  later  life  the  choice  not  well  made,  Tycho's  bent 
was  not  for  the  legal  profession  but  for  science,  that  is,  for 
mathematics  and  astronomy.  While  yet  a  student  in  Copen- 
hagen an  eclipse  of  the  sun  which  occurred  August  21,1 560, 
interested  him  greatly,  and  here  we  seem  to  find  the  begin- 
ning of  that  great  future  which  was  to  be  his.  Forbidden  by 
his  schoolmaster  to  give  his  time  to  a  study  of  the  stars,  in 
the  quiet  of  the  night  he  would  secretly  betake  himself  into 
the  open,  there  to  watch  with  unaided  eye  the  movements 
of  the  heavenly  bodies,  or  to  follow  these  movements  as 
best  he  could  with  the  assistance  of  a  simple  astronomical 
circle  and  a  small  celestial  globe  which  he  had  been  able 
to  purchase.  It  probably  was  in  his  Leipzig  days  that  he  be- 
came intimate  with  Bartholomaus  Scultetus  (Schultz),  lec- 
turer on  mathematical  subjects,  and  by  him  was  encouraged 
to  pursue  further  his  astronomical  studies.  Among  the  first 
practical  results  of  his  activities  in  this  field  we  have  his 
correction  table  for  readings  with  the  Jacob  staff.  The  death 
of  his  uncle  in  the  year  1565  occasioned  his  return  to  his 
native  country,  but  Germany  offering  him  special  oppor- 
tunities for  continued  study  in  his  favorite  field,  we  soon 
find  him  in  Wittenberg,  later  in  Rostock,  where  in  a  quarrel 
with  a  peasant  he  lost  part  of  his  nose  and  thereafter  to  the 
end  of  his  days  wore  a  silver  substitute.  In  1567  we  find  him 

[   183  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

in  Lauingen  engaged  in  the  study  of  astronomy  with  the 
distinguished  Cyprian  Leowitz,  in  1568  in  Basel  with  Peter 
Ramus,  and  for  two  years  thereafter  in  Augsburg  with  the 
brothers  Johan  and  Paul  Hainzel,  with  whom  he  constructed 
a  large  quadrant  having  a  radius  of  seventeen  and  one  half 
feet.  While  in  Augsburg  it  appears  that  he  began  the  con- 
struction of  a  celestial  globe  four  feet  in  diameter,  but  there 
is  some  uncertainty  as  to  his  completion  of  this  work.  A 
short  but  unhappy  sojourn  in  his  native  town  followed  his 
years  of  congenial  study  in  Germany,  and  we  soon  learn  of 
his  visit  to  the  observatory  of  Landgraf  Wilhelm  of  Cassel, 
an  event  of  great  significance  for  him.  His  travels  carried 
him  to  other  cities  of  Germany,  including  the  city  of  Regens- 
burg,  where  he  witnessed  the  coronation  of  the  Emperor 
Rudolf  II.  Landgraf  Wilhelm,  a  Maecenas  of  wide  repute  in 
his  day,  had  been  greatly  impressed  with  the  abilities  of 
Tycho,  and  he  urged  upon  the  Danish  King  Frederick  that 
he  should  make  suitable  provision  for  the  further  astronomi- 
cal studies  of  his  distinguished  subject,  which  suggestion  the 
King  generously  met.  In  the  year  1575  the  documents  were 
signed  and  sealed  granting  to  Tycho  full  possession  for  life 
of  the  little  Island  of  Hveen,  lying  between  Seeland  and 
Schonen;  in  addition  he  was  furnished  with  all  the  means 
necessary  for  the  erection  of  an  observatory  and  the  adequate 
equipment  of  the  same  (Fig.  76).  The  Uranienburg,  as  his 
observatory  was  called,"  became  a  great  center  for  astronom- 
ical studies,  and  students  came  to  him  from  various  Euro- 
pean lands,  among  these  being  Arnold  van  Langren,  Willem 
Jansz.  Blaeu,  and  Longomontanus  (Christian  Severin  of 
Longberg).  The  death  of  his  patron.  King  Frederick  II,  in 
the  year  1588  brought  misfortune  to  Tycho,  in  so  far  as  his 
life  and  studies  on  the  Island  of  Hveen  were  concerned,  since 
the  succeeding  ruler.  Christian  IV,  was  but  little  interested 
in  the  further  promotion  of  astronomical  science.  Enduring 
court  intrigue  for  nine  years,  he  determined,  in  the  year 
1597,  to  leave  the  scenes  of  his  remarkable  successes,  and 

[  184  ] 


"  im. 


TYcao  E:iiAi[E 


lyfc!  -t^   .>ifaZ<-ri  ,  sov:-   yjtjif-    -juut   Fri-.tlcri'tuthoTti 


Fig.  75.  Portrait  of  Tycho  Brahe. 


Last  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

after  a  brief  sojourn  with  Count  Henry  of  Ranzau  near 
Hamburg,  he  accepted  an  invitation  from  the  Emperor 
Rudolf  II  to  become  imperial  astronomer  and  counselor  at 
Prague.  Thither  he  went  with  his  family  in  the  year  1599,  at 
the  same  time  taking  with  him  those  astronomical  instru- 
ments which  had  served  him  in  his  studies  in  the  northern 
island  home.  While  preparations  were  under  way  for  the 
erection  of  a  new  observatory  for  him  he  died  in  the  year 
1601.  From  Tycho's  heirs  the  Emperor  Rudolf  purchased  his 
instruments  and  manuscripts,  the  latter  passing  into  the 
hands  of  Kepler,  his  successor  at  the  Imperial  Court,  but  as 
to  the  fate  of  his  instruments  little  seems  to  be  known. 
Kastner  tells  us  that  in  1619,  during  an  uprising  in  the  city 
of  Prague,  some  of  these  were  destroyed  while  others  were 
carried  away,  and  at  present  only  an  iron  quadrant,  once  in 
his  observatory,  remains  in  that  city. 

His  large  brass  celestial  globe,  six  feet  in  diameter,  was 
carried  back  to  Copenhagen  in  the  year  1623  by  King  Chris- 
tian's son,  Ulrich,  and  there  it  was  carefully  kept  until  the 
year  1728,  when  with  the  castle  in  which  it  had  been  placed 
it  was  destroyed  by  fire. 

Recalling  the  far-reaching  influence  of  Tycho  Brahe  on 
astronomical  studies  and  on  celestial  globe  making,  it  can- 
not be  without  interest  to  quote  here  his  own  reference  to 
his  great  globe,  wherein  he  describes  its  construction. 

"This  globe,"  he  says,"  "which  is  a  very  large  one, 
we  have  made  with  great  care,  but  with  none  the  less  than 
we  have  employed  in  all  of  our  others.  The  interior  is  of 
wood  with  many  intersecting  circles  and  special  supports, 
strengthened  here  and  there  from  the  center,  and  being  then 
fashioned  into  a  spherical  shape.  As  for  its  parts  of  wood, 
these  were  made  at  Augsburg  in  the  year  1570  before  I  re- 
turned to  my  native  land,  as  I  found  there  a  capable  work- 
man, having  sought  for  a  long  time  elsewhere  in  vain  for 
such  an  one.  There,  on  account  of  its  size,  which  made  it 
difficult  to  move,  it  had  remained  for  five  years,  when  I 

[  185  1 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

returned  to  Augsburg;  this  was  in  the  year  1575  as  I  came 
out  of  Italy  on  my  way  to  Ratisbon  to  be  present  at  the  coro- 
nation of  the  August  Emperor  Rudolf  II,  when  I  found 
the  globe  had  been  finished  some  time  previously.  But  its 
shape  (sphericity)  did  not  altogether  satisfy  me,  moreover 
certain  cracks  could  be  seen.  In  the  following  year,  and  not 
without  much  difficulty  I  had  it  carried  to  Denmark.  There 
the  cracks  were  filled  in  and  the  sphericity  made  more  nearly 
perfect  by  laying  over  the  surface  about  one  hundred  skins. 
There  followed  a  testing  for  a  period  of  two  years  to  ascer- 
tain whether  the  cracks  would  reappear  after  two  summers 
and  two  winters.  When,  after  this  test,  I  saw  that  it  retained 
its  sphericity,  I  covered  it  over  with  thin  brass  plates  of  uni- 
form thickness  without  mishap,  and  this  I  did  with  such  care 
and  skill  that  you  would  be  led  to  say  the  globe  was  made 
of  solid  brass,  the  joinings  of  the  plates  being  scarcely  visi- 
ble. I  next  fashioned  it  into  a  perfect  sphere  and  marked 
thereon  the  zodiac,  and  the  equator  with  its  poles,  also  the 
degrees  each  of  sixty  minutes  by  engraved  lines  as  we  do 
in  such  work.  I  then  left  it  for  the  space  of  one  year,  as 
there  was  some  doubt  after  putting  on  the  brass  plates  as 
to  whether  the  globe  would  retain  its  sphericity  in  winter 
and  in  summer.  When  it  had  been  sufficiently  tested  not  only 
did  I  indicate  the  circles  of  which  I  have  spoken  but  also  all 
the  stars  of  the  eighth  sphere  I  represented  in  their  proper 
places,  as  many  stars  as  were  to  be  seen  in  the  heavens,  and 
I  increased  their  number  more  and  more  in  succeeding  years 
up  to  1600.  Thus  I  with  purpose  added  all  the  stars  visible 
to  the  naked  eye,  in  their  proper  places  adapted  to  the  year 
1600  which  was  near  at  hand.  And  so  there  passed  nearly 
twenty-five  years  from  the  first  work  on  this  globe  until  it 
was  finished,  by  the  addition  of  its  proper  divisions  and  its 
stars.  This  delay,  although  it  might  seem  tedious,  was  not 
without  its  value;  for  all  things  were  thus  done  more  care- 
fully and  better.  'Work  quickly  only  if  you  work  well.'  Then 
the  outer  circles  were  fitted  to  it,  that  is,  a  meridian  and 

[  186  ] 


Fig.  76.  Interior  of  Tycho  Brahe's  Observatory  at  Uranienburg. 


Last  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

after  that  a  horizon  circle.  This  meridian  is  made  of  brass, 
and  each  degree  is  divided  into  minutes,  and  the  horizon  has 
the  width  of  a  palm  of  the  hand,  being  covered  with  brass 
having  the  degrees  and  minutes  marked.  The  vertical  quad- 
rant passing  from  the  zenith  to  the  horizon  is  of  brass. 

"The  globe  rests  on  a  firm  base  having  two  iron  supports 
crossing  each  other,  two  of  which  you  see  on  one  side  and 
two  on  the  other.  These  are  for  the  purpose  of  giving 
strength  lest  the  horizon  of  the  instrument  should  not  be 
firm  because  of  its  bulk  and  weight. 

"The  entire  support  is  five  feet  high,  and  on  the  lower 
part  of  the  structure  various  mathematical  devices  are  to 
be  seen  skilfully  painted  for  the  sake  of  ornamentation,  and 
with  the  other  features  adding  beauty  to  the  whole.  The 
globe  itself  is  approximately  six  feet  in  diameter,  and  from 
this  dimension  the  size  of  the  meridian,  of  the  horizon  and 
of  the  rest  of  the  instrument  can  be  obtained. 

"Such  a  globe,  so  solidly  made,  so  finely  wrought,  and 
in  every  part  so  finely  constructed  and  properly  constituted 
never  before  in  any  part  of  the  world,  so  I  believe  and  say 
without  the  thought  of  arousing  envy,  has  been  completed. 
It  is  an  immense  and  a  magnificent  work;  so  much  so  that 
many  have  come  from  various  countries  to  Denmark  that 
they  might  have  a  view  of  it  together  with  my  other  instru- 
ments, while  the  Kingdom  of  Urania  and  its  far-famed 
citadel  were  standing. 

"Around  the  horizon  circle  one  could  read  in  letters  of  gold 
Tn  the  year  of  Christ  CO  ID  XXCIV  (1584),  Frederick  II 
reigning  in  Denmark,  this  globe  like  unto  a  celestial  machine, 
in  which  are  fixed  the  stars  of  the  eighth  sphere  as  set  down 
on  his  globe  each  exactly  in  its  place,  also  the  wandering 
stars  as  they  appear  among  these,  Tycho  Brahe,  to  all  on 
earth  who  desire  to  understand  this  matter,  shows  the 
heavens  by  this  mechanical  device  which  he  perfected  for  his 
sons,  for  himself  and  for  posterity.' 

"The  date  1584  is  inscribed  hereon  because  that  is  the 

[  187  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

middle  of  the  period  of  time  in  which  it  was  in  the  process 
of  construction,  and  further  it  is  the  year  before  the  death 
of  King  Frederick  of  most  worthy  memory,  who  liberally 
supported  both  myself  and  my  work,  and  his  princely  love 
followed  me  as  long  as  he  lived.  I  will  add  only  this  one 
thing — this  globe  has  a  canopy  indicated  by  Y  Z  (Fig. 
77)  circular,  and  concave  within  to  enclose  the  upper  half  of 
the  globe,  which  canopy,  fastened  to  the  roof  by  a  chain, 
may  be  let  down  as  a  protection  from  dust  and  from  other 
injury.  The  use  of  the  globe  is  the  same  as  is  that  of  others, 
and  this  use  I  have  decided  to  describe  in  a  special  work 
during  my  leisure  time,  since  it  cannot  be  done  in  few  words. 
This  globe  has,  on  account  of  its  great  size,  an  advantage 
over  all  others,  namely  that  all  details  on  it  can  be  given 
with  the  utmost  exactness  and  minuteness.  And  those  points 
concerning  the  doctrine  of  the  primum  mobilum  and  the 
study  of  the  heavenly  bodies  in  their  relations  to  the  position 
of  the  ecliptic  and  the  equator  and  of  certain  other  circles 
on  the  globe,  are  easily  determined  with  a  minimum  of 
trouble  and  without  any  laborious  effort,  by  the  machine.". 

Van  Raemdonck  refers  to  a  globe  by  Titon  du  Tillet,  of 
the  year  1584,  citing  a  reference  to  this  work  to  be  found 
in  "Memoirs  lus  a  la  Sorbonne."  We  have  been  unable  to 
obtain  concerning  Titon  any  additional  information  to  that 
given  in  the  above  citations.^* 

In  March,  1861,  the  Bibliotheque  Nationale  of  Paris 
acquired  by  purchase  a  copper  engraved  globe  mounted  on 
a  metal  base."^  The  record  referring  to  the  purchase  reads 
"Trouve  a  Lignieres  (Cher)  et  provenant  de  I'abbe 
L'Ecuy."  (Fig.  78.) 

Aside  from  its  geographical  interest  it  is  particularly  sig- 
nificant in  that  it  is  the  only  globe  of  metal  known  to  have 
been  made  in  Rouen  in  that  period.  It  is  neither  signed  nor 
dated,  but  its  inscriptions  seem  to  assure  us  that  it  was  not 
made  prior  to  1578,  yet  in  all  probability  before  1600.  It 
seems  not  to  be  known  how  the  globe  found  its  way  into  the 

[  188  ] 


GLOBVS    MAGNVS   ORL 


C  H  A  L  C  1  C  U  S. 


Fig.  77.  Globus  Magnus  of  Tycho  Brahe,  1584. 


Last  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

locality  designated.  The  Abbe  L'Ecuy  died  in  Paris  in  the 
year  1634  ^^  the  age  of  eighty-four,  Vicar  General  of  the 
Prebendary  of  Notre  Dame.  It  is  probable  that  at  the  death 
of  the  Abbe  the  globe  was  taken  to  the  province  of  Cher  by 
some  dealer  or  purchaser,  as  he  was  bom  in  the  town  Yvoi- 
Carignan  in  French  Luxembourg.  Of  the  earliest  history  of 
this  remarkably  interesting  object  we  know  only  that  it  was 
made  in  Rouen,  at  a  date  we  cannot  definitely  fix. 

It  has  a  diameter  of  25.6  cm.  In  an  oval  cartouch  one 
finds  the  inscription  "Nova  et  Integra  universi  orbis  descrip- 
tio.  Rothomagi."  "A  new  and  complete  description  of  the 
world.  Rouen."  Below  the  last  line  there  appears  to  be  space 
left  for  the  insertion  of  the  author's  name,  a  thought  sug- 
gested by  the  arrangement  for  the  inscription,  and  under- 
neath the  cartouch  is  engraved  a  representation  of  Neptune 
driving  his  sea  horses  and  chariot  and  armed  with  a  trident. 
There  are  numerous  vessels  represented  on  the  globe,  sail- 
ing the  seas,  in  the  style  of  the  sixteenth  century.  The  prime 
meridian  passes  through  the  Canary  Islands.  The  author 
seems  to  have  drawn  largely  from  Spanish  sources,  but  to 
some  extent  from  the  Portuguese. 

The  outlines  of  the  several  countries  of  the  Old  World 
are  not  particularly  well  drawn,  and  it  does  not  appear  that 
the  author  thought  of  making  an  especial  point  of  accuracy. 
Africa  has  the  outlines  of  the  maps  of  the  sixteenth  century, 
but  with  an  indifference  to  details.  The  Senegal  and  the 
Niger  are  made  to  unite  to  form  the  Nile.  Asia  is  not  par- 
ticularly well  drawn.  Below  the  island  of  Cipango  the 
author  has  engraved  the  following  legend,  "Hoc  loco  secuti 
sumus  recentiores  banc  partem  verius  a  continente  sepa- 
rantes."  "In  this  place  we  have  followed  the  most  recent 
(observers)  who  rightly  separate  this  part  from  the  con- 


tinent." 


The  western  coast  of  America  gives  evidence  of  a  want  of 
detailed  knowledge.  Here  we  read  "Haec  littora  nondum 
cognita,"  "this  coast  is  not  yet  known,"  and  below  this, 

[  189  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

"Novus  orbis,"  and  "Hispania  major  a  Nuno  Gusmano 
devicta  anno  1539,"  "Greater  Spain  conquered  by  Nuno 
Gusman  in  the  year  1539."  California  is  represented  as  a 
peninsula  and  not  an  island  as  on  so  many  of  the  maps  of 
the  closing  years  of  the  sixteenth  century.  The  nomenclature 
along  the  coast  of  Mexico  is  exceedingly  rich.  Pizarro's  con- 
quest is  referred  to,  but  Chili  is  unknown,  "Ulterius  incog- 
nitum."  The  estuary  of  La  Plata  is  represented  as  very  large. 
The  coast  names  north  of  Florida  seem  to  have  been  ob- 
tained from  the  Verrazano  sources  of  1524.  In  the  region 
of  Newfoundland,  which  is  represented  as  a  region  of 
numerous  small  islands,  we  find  "Baccalearum  regio," 
"Gamas,"  "insule  Corteralis,"  "terro  de  laborador."  The 
strait  separating  Greenland  from  the  mainland  is  referred 
to  as  "Fretum  arcticum  per  quod  Lusitani  in  orientem  et  ad 
Indos  et  Molucas  navigare  conati  sunt,"  "Arctic  strait 
through  which  the  Portuguese  attempted  to  sail  to  the  east 
and  to  the  Indies  and  the  Moluccas,"  an  allusion  to  the  un- 
happy results  of  the  Cortereal  expedition.  Along  the  coast 
of  the  strait  which  forms  the  northern  boundary  of  North 
America  we  read  "Terra  per  Britannos  inventa,"  "Land 
discovered  by  the  British."  A  very  curious  legend  along  the 
east  coast  of  Greenland  reads  "Quii  populi  ad  quos  Joafies 
Scovus  Danus  pervenit  anno  1476,"  "These  are  the  people 
to  whom  the  Dane  John  Scovus  came  in  the  year  1476." 
Humboldt  was  one  of  the  first  to  call  attention  to  this  expe- 
dition, and  Gomara  was  actually  the  first  to  mention  it,  that 
is,  to  give  a  reference  to  the  Dane  Skolnus."** 

There  are  no  more  interesting  survivals  among  the  globes 
of  the  late  sixteenth  century  than  are  those  constructed  by 
Emery  Molyneux,  now  belonging  to  the  Middle  Temple 
Library  of  London  (Fig.  79),  which  Sir  Clements  Mark- 
ham  refers  to  as  "their  burial  place,"  considering  this  to  be 
"a  strange  depositor}^  for  geographical  documents  of  such 
interest  and  importance,"  In  the  address  "To  the  Reader" 
or  preface  to  his  'Voyages,'  Hakluyt  gives  the  first  reference 

[  190  1 


Fig.  78.  T.'Ecuy  Terrestrial  Globe,  ca.  1578. 


Last  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

in  print  to  these  globes.  "Nowe,"  he  says,  "because  per- 
aduenture  it  would  bee  expected  as  necessarie,  that  the  de- 
scriptions of  so  many  parts  of  the  world  would  farre  more 
easily  be  conceiued  of  the  Readers,  by  adding  Geographicall, 
and  Hydrographicall  tables  thereunto,  thou  art  by  the  way 
to  be  admonished  that  I  have  contented  my  selfe  with 
inserting  into  the  worke  one  of  the  best  generall  mappes  of 
the  world  onely,  untill  the  coming  out  of  a  very  large  and 
most  exact  terrestriall  Globe,  collected  and  reformed  accord- 
ing to  the  newest,  secretest,  and  latest  discoueries,  both 
Spanish,  Portugall,  and  English,  composed  by  M.  Emmerie 
Mollineux  of  Lambeth,  a  rare  gentleman  in  his  profession, 
being  therein  for  diuers  yeeres,  gratly  supported  by  the  purse 
and  liberalitie  of  the  worshipfuU  marchant  M.  William 
Sanderson. "^^  It  was  not  until  near  the  close  of  the  year 
1592  that  the  globes  were  completed,  and  soon  thereafter 
we  have  their  first  printed  description,  which  description  was 
given  by  Dr.  Hood  of  Trinity  College,  Cambridge,  a  lecturer 
on  mathematics  and  navigation  in  the  city  of  London.^® 
Blundeville,  in  his  'Exercises,'"''  refers  to  them,  and  in  1594 
Robert  Hues  published  the  first  edition  of  his  most  valuable 
and  interesting  treatise  on  globes,  bearing  the  title,  'Trac- 
tatus  de  Globis  et  eorum  usu,  accomodatus  iis  qui  Londini 
editi  sunt  anno  1593,'  taking  the  Molyneux  globes  as  the 
basis  for  his  observations. 

Very  little  is  known  of  the  life  of  Molyneux.  He  appears 
to  have  been  a  member  of  the  Cavendish  expedition  of  the 
years  1586-1588,  as  is  suggested  by  one  of  the  legends  on 
his  terrestrial  globe.  He  was  known  to  Sir  Walter  Raleigh, 
to  Richard  Hakluyt,  to  Edward  Wright,  and  to  John  Davis. 
To  the  suggestions  of  the  last-named  we  perhaps  owe  the 
existence  of  these  globes.^"  As  noted  by  Hakluyt  in  his 
preface,  the  globes  were  constructed  at  the  expense  of  Wil- 
liam Sanderson,  a  merchant  prince  of  London,  a  liberal  and 
patriotic  citizen,  one  interested  in  geographical  exploration, 
who  had  fitted  out  the  Davis  Arctic  Expedition. 

[  191  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

Sir  Clements  Markham,  in  his  edition  of  Robert  Hues' 
'Tractatus  de  Globis,'^^  edited  for  the  Hakluyt  Society  and 
published  in  the  year  1889,  gives  in  his  introduction  the 
following  brief  but  adequate  description  of  these  globes: 
"The  Molyneux  globes  are  2  feet  2  inches  in  diameter,  and 
are  fixed  on  stands.  They  have  graduated  brass  meridians, 
and  on  that  of  the  terrestrial  globe  a  dial  circle  or  'Hora- 
rius'  is  fixed.  The  broad  wooden  equator,  forming  the  upper 
part  of  the  stand,  is  painted  with  the  zodiac  signs,  the 
months,  the  Roman  calendar,  the  points  of  the  compass,  and 
the  same  in  Latin,  in  concentric  circles.  Rhumb  lines  are 
drawn  from  numerous  centers  over  the  surface  of  the  terres- 
trial globe.  The  equator,  the  ecliptic,  the  polar  circles  are 
painted  boldly;  while  the  parallels  of  latitude  and  merid- 
ians, at  every  ten  degrees,  are  very  faint  lines.  The  globe 
received  additions,  including  the  discoveries  of  Barents  in 
Novaya  Zemlya,  and  the  date  has  been  altered  with  a  pen 
from  1592  to  1603.  The  constellations  and  fixed  stars  on 
the  celestial  globe  are  the  same  as  those  on  the  globe  of 
Mercator,  except  that  the  Southern  Cross  has  been  added. 
On  both  the  celestial  and  the  terrestrial  globes  of  Molyneux 
there  is  a  square  label  with  this  inscription  This  globe,  be- 
longing to  the  Middle  Temple,  was  repaired  in  the  year 
1818  by  J.  and  W.  Newton,  Globe  Makers,  Chancery  Lane.' 

"Over  North  America  are  the  arms  of  France  and  Eng- 
land quarterly;  supporters,  a  lion  and  dragon;  motto  of  the 
garter;  crown,  crest,  and  baldrequin;  standing  on  a  label, 
with  a  long  dedication  to  Oueen  Elizabeth. 

"The  achievement  of  Mr.  William  Sanderson  is  painted 
on  the  imaginary  southern  continent  to  the  south  of  Africa. 
The  crest  is  a  globe  with  the  sun's  rays  behind.  It  stands  on 
a  squire's  helmet  with  baldrequin.  The  shield  is  quarterly; 
1st,  paly  of  six  azure  and  argent,  over  all  a  bend  sable  for 
Sanderson;  2nd,  gules,  lions,  and  castles  in  the  quarters  for 
Skirne  alias  Castilion;  3rd,  or,  a  chevron  between  3  eagles 
displayed  sable,  in  chief  a  label  of  three  points  sable  for 

[  192  1 


Fig.  79.  Terrestrial  Globe  of  Emery  Molyneux,  1592. 


Last  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

Wall ;  4th,  quarterly,  or  and  azure,  over  all  a  bend  gules  for 
Langston.  Beneath  there  is  an  address  from  William  San- 
derson to  the  gentle  reader,  English  and  Latin,  in  parallel 
columns. 

"In  the  north  polar  regions  there  are  several  new  addi- 
tions, delineating  the  discoveries  of  English  and  Dutch  ex- 
plorers for  the  first  time.  John  Davis  wrote,  in  his  'World's 
Hydrographical  Discovery' :  'How  far  I  proceeded  doth 
appear  on  the  globe  made  by  Master  Emerie  Molyneus.' 
Davis  Strait  is  shown  with  all  the  names  on  its  shores  which 
were  given  by  its  discoverer,  and  the  following  legend 
'Joannes  Davis  Anglus  anno  1583-86-87  littora  Americae 
circumspectantia  a  quinquagesimo  quinto  grado  ad  73  sub 
polarem  scrutando  perlegit.'  ('John  Davis,  an  Englishman 
in  the  years  1583-86-87,  gave  these  names  when  he  mapped 
the  shores  of  America  lying  between  the  parallels  of  ^^  de- 
grees and  73  degrees  north  latitude.')  On  another  legend 
we  have  'Additions  in  the  north  parts  to  1603';  and  below 
it  are  the  discoveries  of  Barents,  with  his  Novaya  Zemlya 
winter  quarters — 'Het  behouden  huis.'  Between  Novaya 
Zemlya  and  Greenland  there  is  an  island  called  'Sir  Hugo 
Willoghbi  his  land.'  This  insertion  arose  from  a  great  error 
in  longitude,  Willoughby  having  sighted  the  coast  of 
Novaya  Zemlya;  and  the  island,  of  course  had  no  existence, 
though  it  long  remained  on  the  maps.  To  the  north  of  Siberia 
there  are  two  legends,  'Rd.  Cancel arius  et  Stephanus  Bur- 
row Angli  Lappiae  et  Coreliae  oras  marinas  et  Simm.  S. 
Nicolai  vulgo  dictum  anno  1553  menso  Augusto  explora- 
verunt'  ('Richard  Chancelor  and  Stephen  Burrow  English- 
men explored  the  shore  of  Lapland  and  Corelia,  and  of 
Simm.  S.  Nicolai  commonly  so  called,  in  the  month  of 
August  1553'),  and  'Joannes  Mandevillanus  eques  Anglius 
ex  Anglia  anno  1332  Cathaiae  et  Tartariae  regiones  penetra- 
venit.'  ('John  Mandeville  an  English  knight  from  England 
in  the  year  1322  entered  the  regions  of  Cathay  and  Tar- 
tary.') 

[  193  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

"Many  imaginary  islands,  in  the  Atlantic,  are  retained  on 
the  globe:  including  'Frisland,'  'Buss  Ins,'  'Brasil,'  'Maidas,' 
'Heptapolis,'  'St-.  Brandan.'  On  the  eastern  side  of  North 
America  are  the  countries  of  Florida,  Virginia,  and  Norum- 
bega;  and  also  a  large  town  of  Norumbega  up  a  gulf  full  of 
islands. 

"The  learned  Dr.  Dee  had  composed  a  treatise  on  the 
title  of  Queen  Elizabeth  to  Norumbega;  and  in  modern 
times  Professor  Horsford  has  written  a  memoir  to  identify 
Norumbega  with  a  site  up  the  Charles  River,  near  Boston. 
On  the  Atlantic,  near  the  American  coast,  is  the  following 
legend  'Virginia  primum  lustrata,  habitata,  et  cultu  ab  An- 
glis  impensis  D.  Gualteri  de  Ralegh  Equitis  Aurati  ammenti 
Elizabethae  Angliae  Reginae.'  ('Virginia  first  surveyed,  in- 
habited and  cultivated  by  the  English  at  the  expense  of  Sir 
Walter  Raleigh,  Knight,  subsidized  by  the  gold  of  Eliza- 
beth Queen  of  England.') 

"A  legend  in  the  Pacific  Ocean  furnishes  direct  evidence 
that  information,  for  compiling  the  globe  was  supplied  by 
Sir  Walter  Raleigh.  It  is  in  Spanish:  'Islas  estas  descubrio 
Pedro  Sarmiento  de  Gamboa  por  la  Corona  de  Castella  y 
Leon  desde  el  ano  1568  llamolas  Islas  de  Jesus  aunque  vul- 
farmente  las  llaman  Islas  de  Salomon.'  ('Pedro  Sarmiento 
of  Gamboa  discovered  these  islands  in  the  year  1568  for  the 
crown  of  Castile  and  Leon  calling  them  the  Islands  of  Jesus 
though  they  are  commonly  called  the  Salomon  Islands.') 

"Pedro  Sarmiento  was  the  officer  who  was  sent  to  fortify 
the  Strait  of  Magellan  after  Drake  had  passed  through.  He 
was  taken  prisoner  by  an  English  ship  on  his  way  to  Spain, 
and  was  the  guest  of  Raleigh  in  London  for  several  weeks, 
so  that  it  must  have  been  on  information  communicated  by 
Raleigh  that  the  statement  respecting  Sarmiento  on  this 
legend  was  based. 

"Besides  'Insulae  Salmonis'  there  are  two  islands  in  the 
Pacific,  'Y  Sequenda  de  los  Tubarones,'  and  'San  Pedro,' 

[  194  ] 


Last  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

as  well  as  the  north  coast  of  New  Guinea,  with  the  names 
given  on  Mercator's  map.' 

"Cavendish  also  appears  to  have  given  assistance,  or  pos- 
sibly Molyneux  himself  accompanied  that  circumnavigator 
in  his  voyage  of  1587.  The  words  of  a  legend  off  the  Pata- 
gonian  coast  seem  to  countenance  this  idea,  reading, 
'Thomas  Caundish  18  Dec.  1587  haec  terra  sub  nostris  oculis 
primum  obtulit  sub  latitud  47  cujus  seu  admodum  salubris 
Incolae  maturi  ex  parte  proceri  sunt  gigantes  et  vasti  mag- 
nitudinis.' 

"The  great  southern  continent  is  made  to  include  Tierra 
del  Fuego  and  the  south  coast  of  Magellan's  Strait,  and 
extends  over  the  greater  part  of  the  south  frigid  zone. 

"S.  Matheo,  an  island  in  the  Atlantic,  south  of  the  line, 
was  visited  by  the  Spanish  ships  under  Loaysa  and  Sebastian 
del  Cano,  but  has  never  been  seen  since.  It  appears  on  the 
globe.  In  the  south  Atlantic  there  are  painted  a  sea-serpent, 
a  whale,  Orpheus  riding  on  a  dolphin,  and  ships  under  full 
sail — fore  and  main  courses  and  topsails,  a  sprit  sail,  and  the 
mizzen  with  a  long  lateen  yard. 

"The  track  of  the  voyage  of  Sir  Francis  Drake  and 
Master  Thomas  Cavendish  round  the  world  are  shown,  the 
one  by  a  red  and  the  other  by  a  blue  line.  That  these  tracks 
were  put  on  when  the  globe  was  first  made  is  proved  by  the 
reference  to  them  in  Blundeville's  'Exercises.' 

"The  name  of  the  author  of  the  globe  is  thus  given: 
'Emerum  Mullineus  Angl.  sumptibus  Guilelm  Sanderson 
Londinensis  descripsit.'  " 

Markham  likewise  tells  us  that  the  celestial  globe,  in  its 
general  features,  closely  resembles  the  terrestrial.  It  carries 
the  same  arms  of  Sanderson,  and  the  same  label  of  Newton, 
but  a  briefer  dedication  to  the  Queen.  It  appears  that  the 
map  was  engraved  and  printed  by  Hondius  of  Amsterdam, 
since  it  carries  the  brief  legend  "Judocus  Hondius  Fon.  Sc." 
In  addition  to  the  Molyneux  globes  in  the  Middle  Temple, 
a  pair  may  be  found  in  the  Royal  Museum  of  Cassel.  A 

[  195  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

detailed  description  of  this  pair  it  has  not  been  possible  to 
obtain. 

Jost  Biirgi,  a  native  of  Lichtensteig  in  the  Toggenburg, 
Switzerland,  was  bom  in  the  year  1552  and  died  in  Cassel 
in  the  year  1632.^^  Early  in  life  he  became  a  clock  maker's 
apprentice,  and  for  some  time  was  engaged  with  Dasypodius 
in  the  construction  of  the  famous  Strassburg  Cathedral 
clock.  In  the  year  1579  he  was  called  to  the  court  of  Land- 
grave William  IV  in  Cassel,  under  whose  patronage  he 
won  great  distinction  as  a  maker  of  astronomical  and  mathe- 
matical instruments.  In  the  year  1603  he  was  called  into 
the  service  of  the  Emperor  at  Prague,  but  in  the  year  1631 
he  returned  to  Cassel,  where  he  died  in  the  following  year. 
Biirgi,  skilful  workman  that  he  was,  seems  not  to  have 
found  time  to  tell  in  words  of  his  various  activities.  "He 
found  pleasure  in  work,"  says  one  of  his  biographers,  and 
left  it  for  others  to  write  of  his  attainments,  which,  it  may 
here  be  said,  they  seem  not  to  have  done  in  a  very  detailed 
manner. 

Landgrave  William's  interest  in  the  promotion  of  scien- 
tific studies  led  him  to  the  founding  of  a  museum  to  which 
he  made  numerous  contributions  of  apparatus,  mathematical 
and  astronomical.  This  museum,  in  the  course  of  years,  be- 
came one  of  the  most  famous  of  its  kind  in  all  Europe,  and 
indeed  remains  such  to  this  day.  In  its  collections  the  work 
of  Biirgi  is  well  represented,  which  in  the  quality  of  the 
workmanship  exhibited,  as  in  the  interest  it  awakens  by 
reason  of  its  place  as  a  nucleus  around  which  so  much  of 
value  has  been  gathered,  is  unsurpassed. 

Among  the  first  of  his  instruments  may  be  mentioned  an 
astronomical  clock,  elaborately  wrought,  with  movable  discs 
and  circles  for  illustrating  the  movements  of  the  heavenly 
bodies,  and  surmounted  with  an  engraved  celestial  globe, 
which,  driven  by  clockwork,  is  made  to  turn  on  its  axis  once 
in  twenty-four  hours.   It  seems  evident  that  Biirgi  con- 

[  196  ] 


Last  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

structed  other  clocks  of  like  character,  supplied,  as  is  this 
example,  with  a  celestial  globe. 

In  this  same  Museum  of  Cassel  there  is  a  second  celestial 
globe,  the  work  of  Biirgi,  which  was  begun  in  the  year  1585, 
and  not  entirely  completed  until  the  year  1693  by  Heinrich 
van  Lannep.  This  copper  sphere,  72  cm.  in  diameter,  is  re- 
markably well  preserved.  It  has  a  heavy  brass  meridian  circle 
to  which  is  attached  an  engraved  hour  circle  46  cm.  in  diam- 
eter. A  large  brass  semicircle  intersects  this  meridian  circle 
at  right  angles  through  the  north  pole,  and  is  attached  to 
the  horizon  circle  at  its  extremities.  The  instrument  rests 
upon  an  artistic  and  substantial  brass  support.  On  the  sur- 
face of  the  sphere  are  engraved  the  principal  celestial  cir- 
cles, including  the  colures,  the  equator,  the  tropics,  the  polar 
circles,  the  ecliptic,  and  twelve  parallels.  The  stars,  of  which 
the  largest  are  distinguished  by  a  bit  of  inlaid  silver,  and 
the  several  figures  of  the  constellations  which  are  very  artis- 
tically engraved,  are  clearly  the  work  of  a  master. 

A  third  globe  of  gilded  brass,  containing  clockwork 
within  by  means  of  which  it  is  made  to  revolve  and  appar- 
ently the  work  of  Biirgi,  may  also  be  found  in  this  Cassel 
collection.  A  small  silver  sun,  movable  along  the  equator, 
is  mechanically  attached  in  such  manner  as  to  serve  admir- 
ably for  demonstrative  purposes.  The  engraved  surface  of 
the  globe  is  equal  in  its  artistic  merits  to  that  of  the  copper 
globe  referred  to  above. 

There  is  yet  a  fourth  metal  globe  in  this  collection,  ap- 
parently the  work  of  Biirgi,  which  is  not  gilded.  In  other 
respects  it  is  said  to  resemble  the  one  designated  above  as 
the  third  globe.  Kepler  is  said  to  have  held  in  the  highest 
esteem  the  scientific  work  of  Biirgi,  and  to  have  placed  him, 
within  his  field,  as  high  as  he  did  Albrecht  Diirer  among 
artists.  There  appears  to  be  good  reason  for  attributing  the 
invention  of  the  pendulum  clock  to  Jost  Biirgi,  and  that 
before  1600  he  had  proved  this  method  of  clock  regulation 
practical. 

[  197  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

Among  the  numerous  and  interesting  treasures  to  be 
found  in  the  Landesmuseum  of  Zurich  is  a  terrestrial  globe 
(Fig.  80)  having  neither  name  of  maker  nor  date  of  con- 
struction, but  belonging,  undoubtedly,  to  the  late  sixteenth 
century.^^  The  sphere  has  a  diameter  of  about  121  cm.,  is 
mounted  on  a  substantial  wooden  base,  and  appears  to  have 
been  made  for  the  monastery  of  St.  Gall,  from  which  place 
it  was  taken  to  Ziirich  in  the  year  1712.  On  the  semicircular 
arms  which  support  the  equatorial  circle  are  represented 
the  armorial  bearings  of  the  abbey  and  monks  of  St.  Gall, 
and  the  date  in  gold,  1595,  which  may  refer  to  the  date  of 
construction  or  to  the  date  when  it  was  placed  in  the  monas- 
tery. On  the  equatorial  circle  one  finds  represented  the  signs 
of  the  zodiac,  the  calendar,  the  names  of  the  saints  and  of 
the  winds.  On  the  heavy  meridian  circle  are  indicated  the 
climatic  zones  and  the  degrees  of  latitude.  The  prime  merid- 
ian is  made  to  pass  through  the  Azores  Islands.  The  sphere 
is  of  papier-mache  and  plaster,  on  which  the  engraved  gores 
are  mounted.  The  seas  have  been  colored  green,  the  lands  a 
dull  yellow,  the  mountain  ranges  brown.  Numerous  barbaric 
kings  are  represented  in  picture,  likewise  numerous  animals 
of  land  and  sea,  and  ships  artistically  drawn  sail  hither  and 
thither  over  the  oceans.  The  austral  continent  is  wanting. 
Marcel  especially  notes  the  striking  resemblance  of  the  globe 
map  to  the  Mercator  map  of  1569,  suggesting  the  possibility 
of  its  Mercatorian  origin,  in  support  of  which  suggestion  he 
quotes  a  number  of  geographical  names  as  well  as  certain 
legends.  The  globe,  it  appears,  has  never  been  critically 
studied,  but  is  clearly  an  interesting  geographical  monument 
of  the  period. 

The  making  of  globe-goblets  in  the  latter  half  of  the 
sixteenth  century  and  early  seventeenth  appears  to  have  been 
in  response  to  a  fashion  especially  pronounced  in  South  Ger- 
many, although  their  construction  was  not  limited  to  that 
region.  Not  a  few  of  such  globes  are  extant,  which  are  fine 

[  198  ] 


Fig.  80.  Anonymous  Terrestrial  Globe,  ca.  1595. 


Last  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

examples  of  the  metal  worker's  art,  having,  however,  a 
decorative  rather  than  a  scientific  value. 

Professor  Fischer  gives  us  an  interesting  description  of 
such  a  goblet  of  gilded  silver  (Fig.  81),  dating  from  the 
end  of  the  sixteenth  or  the  beginning  of  the  seventeenth 
century,  and  it  is  from  his  account  that  the  following  refer- 
ence is  taken. ^*  This  piece  he  pronounces  the  most  valuable 
treasure  in  the  plate  room  of  the  princely  castle  of  Wolfegg, 
to  which  castle  it  was  the  author's  privilege  to  pay  a  most 
interesting  visit  more  than  a  decade  ago.  The  globe  was  long 
considered  a  christening  gift  from  the  Emperor  Francis  to 
his  godson  Francis  of  the  Waldburg  zu  Wolfegg  princely 
family  and  was  supposed  to  date  from  the  end  of  the 
eighteenth  century.  Professor  Fischer,  however,  found 
this  "globis  terrestris"  referred  to  in  a  testament  dated 
January  17,  1779,  with  instructions  that  it,  with  cer- 
tain other  treasures,  should  not  be  recast  or  otherwise 
altered  from  its  ancient  form.  It  was  at  that  time 
recognized  as  a  masterpiece,  but  from  the  hands  of  an  un- 
known master,  and  not  until  recently  was  it  definitely 
determined  to  be  the  work  of  the  Zurich  goldsmith,  Abra- 
ham Gessner  (1552-1613).  "Gessner  appears  to  have  manu- 
factured his  globe-goblets,"  says  Fischer,  "not  in  response 
to  orders  previously  given,  but  in  the  regular  pursuit  of  his 
trade.  At  a  time  when  rich  merchants  and  scholars  took 
such  a  lively  interest  in  geography,  and  the  opening  up  of 
new  countries,  he  could  count  upon  a  market  all  the  more 
readily  because  his  goblets  were  made  with  the  utmost  care 
in  every  detail  and  were  perfect  examples  of  the  various 
branches  of  the  goldsmith's  art ;  casting,  embossing,  chasing, 
engraving,  and  solid  gilding."^^ 

The  goblet  is  58  cm.  in  height.  Its  larger  globe,  a  terres- 
trial, is  composed  of  two  hemispheres  joined  on  the  line  of 
the  equator,  and  has  a  diameter  of  1 7  cm.  The  support  is  a 
standing  figure  of  Atlas,  which  also  serves  as  a  stem  of  the 
lower  half  or  the  lower  goblet,  just  as  the  celestial  sphere 

[  199  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

with  its  support  which  tops  the  piece  serves  as  the  stem  of  the 
upper  half  or  upper  goblet. 

The  oceans,  lakes,  and  rivers  have  a  silver  surface,  while 
the  continents,  islands,  sea  monsters,  sailing  vessels,  prin- 
cipal parallels,  and  meridians  are  gilded.  The  continents 
of  Europe,  Asia,  and  Africa,  and  the  "terra  australis  sive 
Magallanica"  have  their  outlines  drawn  in  the  main  as  they 
appear  on  Mercator's  map  of  1569.  While  certain  recent 
discoveries  as  "Nowaja  Semi j a"  (Nova  Zembla)  are  repre- 
sented, it  does  not  appear  that  Gessner  was  inclined  to  insist 
on  his  map  records  being  laid  down  with  the  strictest  accu- 
racy as  to  geographical  detail. 

The  celestial  globe  topping  the  goblet  is  given  an  artistic 
setting.  It  is  furnished  with  horizon,  meridian,  and  hour 
circles.  The  several  constellations  represented  on  the  surface 
of  the  sphere  are,  through  gilding,  given  special  prominence, 
their  execution,  like  other  parts  of  the  piece,  being  of  the 
finest  workmanship. 

The  figure  of  Atlas  supporting  the  globes  exhibits  skill 
in  its  construction.  It  stands  with  one  foot  slightly  advanced, 
with  the  right  hand  extended  upward  as  if  to  catch  the  ball 
should  it  fall  from  the  head  of  the  figure.  The  hair  and  the 
beard  are  gilded,  as  is  also  the  drapery,  one  end  of  which 
hangs  loosely  over  the  right  shoulder,  while  the  other  covers 
the  front  of  the  body  and  is  held  in  the  left  hand  at  the 
back,  being  made  to  serve  in  part  as  a  support. 

Fischer  calls  attention  to  two  globe-goblets  belonging  to 
the  University  of  Basel  and  to  one  privately  owned;  to  one 
in  the  town  hall  of  Rappoltsweiler;  one  in  what  was  for- 
merly the  Rothschild  Collection  of  Frankfurt,  and  to  one 
in  the  Museum  of  Stockholm,  once  the  property  of  Gustavus 
Adolphus,  which  probably  is  the  one  elsewhere  referred  to; 
and  he  also  calls  attention  to  an  undated  globe-gob- 
let, purchased  in  Paris  in  the  year  1901  by  the  Swiss  Na- 
tional Museum  of  Ziirich  for  the  sum  of  forty-two  thousand 
francs.  It  had  previously  been  referred  to  by  Marcel  as  the 

[  200  ] 


^^^1 

^^^^^H 

n^H 

m 

^^ 

■  ""'^ :;'  ''4M 

^HI^9 

jj^l 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^v     ^^m*     ',^^^^^1 

^^^^^H 

■ 

^^^^^P  :^fl 

^^1 

I^^P^lll 

^H 

^^^^^^^^^^r      ^..^.^M^^^ 

^^^^^1 

^^^^^^m^'  -'  '^f  H|fi 

^p^^^i 

^^^^^HT  v^  4>^^ 

^^^^^L    ~               ■i^''n^mw^>i^^'''' ' 

^■^H 

^^^^^nmn 

f^^^H 

Fig.  8i.  Globe-Goblet  of 

Abraham  Gessner, 

ca.  i6oo. 


Fig.  82.  Gold  Globe-Goblet,  ca.  1575, 


Last  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

work  of  Gessner,  in  proof  of  which  he  noted  that  it  bears 
the  mark  of  this  goldsmith,  the  same  being  the  letter  "Z." 
The  terrestrial  globe,  like  that  of  Wolfegg,  has  a  diameter 
of  17  cm.,  the  whole  being  very  artistically  designed  and 
engraved.  It,  too,  is  surmounted  by  a  celestial  globe  and 
rests  on  a  figure  of  Atlas,  which  figure  in  turn  stands  upon 
an  ornamental  base.  Each  of  the  two  globes  can  be  opened 
on  the  line  of  the  equator,  thus  practically  making  four 
drinking  cups.  On  the  terrestrial  globe,  Marcel  notes,  Cali- 
fornia is  represented  as  an  island.  Near  "Nova  Guinea"  one 
finds  the  inscription  "Nova  Guinea  semper  inventa  qual 
.  .  .  insula  an  pars  continentas  australis."  A  large  austral 
land  is  represented  with  the  inscription  "Hanc  continentem 
australem  nonvuUi  Magelanicam  regionem  ab  ejus  inventore 
nuncupant."  The  absence  of  the  Strait  of  Lemaire  and  of 
New  Zealand,  with  the  representation  of  the  austral  land 
with  more  or  less  indefinite  outline,  Marcel  thinks  warrants 
a  belief  that  it  was  constructed  near  the  close  of  the  six- 
teenth century.  Attention  is  likewise  called  by  Marcel  in  his 
article  to  three  other  small  globes  which  he  found  in  the 
Museum  des  Cordeliers  of  Basel,  and  also  to  one  "tres  beau 
et  tres  riche"  in  the  Musee  Ariana  of  Geneva. 

A  very  artistic  gold  beaker  globe  (Fig.  82)  may  be  found 
in  the  collection  presented  by  Mr.  J.  P.  Morgan  to  the 
Metropolitan  Museum  of  New  York  City.  The  sphere  of 
this,  which  opens  on  the  line  of  the  ecliptic,  has  a  diameter 
of  8  cm.  and  rests  upon  the  figure  of  a  satyr  with  uplifted 
hands  forming  a  part  of  the  support,  this  figure  in  turn 
resting  upon  an  ornamental  circular  base.  Topping  the 
sphere  is  a  small  figure  of  Neptune  carrying  a  trident  and 
standing  in  a  shell  or  conventionalized  small  boat.  The 
engraved  figures  of  the  many  constellations  decorate  the 
surface  of  the  sphere. 

In  the  private  library  of  Mr.  J.  Pierpont  Morgan  may  be 
found  a  fine  example  of  an  ivory  terrestrial  globe  of  this 
period   (Fig.  83).  It  is  hollow,  being  composed  of  two 

[  201  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

hemispheres  joined  on  the  line  of  the  equator,  and  has  a 
diameter  of  about  8  cm.  Near  the  south  pole  is  the  author 
and  date  legend  (Figs.  84,  84^)  "Antonius  Spano  tropiensis 
fecit  1593."  "Made  by  Antonio  Spano  of  Tropea,  1593."  In 
the  unnamed  southern  continent,  and  over  a  representation 
of  the  Spanish  arms,  is  the  dedication  to  the  Infante  Philip, 
afterward  Philip  III,  reading  "Principi  Philip.  Philip  II 
Hisp.  Indiar.  Neap,  e  Siciliae  Cathol.  Regis  Filio,"  and 
within  the  Antarctic  circle  a  salutation  reading  "Princeps  fe- 
licissime  totus  Orbis  ad  se  gubernandum  te  vocat  et  expec- 
tat."  "O  most  fortunate  ruler,  the  whole  world  calls  and 
awaits  you  to  govern  it."  Antonio,  a  native  of  Tropea,  near 
Naples,  was  granted  in  the  year  1595  a  pension  of  one  hun- 
dred ducats,  by  his  master  and  patron,  Philip  II.  This  he 
seems  to  have  enjoyed  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
Madrid  in  the  year  1615.  We  learn  that  this  was  continued 
to  his  son,  Francisco  Spano,  by  King  Philip  III.  The  mount- 
ing of  the  globe,  which  is  simple,  seems  to  be  of  a  later  date 
than  that  given  as  the  year  of  construction  in  the  date  legend, 
but  it  is  well  suited  to  the  artistic  piece.  The  world  map  is 
well  executed,  and  may  be  said  to  be  in  a  perfect  state  of  pres- 
ervation. Its  geographical  details,  in  so  far  as  given,  are  quite 
as  good  as  the  best  to  be  found  at  this  time,  though  it  is 
very  evident  that  the  piece  was  primarily  intended  to  possess 
decorative  rather  than  scientific  value.  The  Mediterranean 
region  gives  us  in  its  general  features  a  representation  of  the 
Ptolemaic  ideas,  particularly  to  be  observed  in  the  repre- 
sentation of  Italy  and  the  Caspian  Sea.  In  Chinese  Asia  ap- 
pears a  legend  reading,  "Hie  artem  impremendi  ante  mille 
anos  habuerunt."  "Here  they  had  the  art  of  printing  a 
thousand  years  ago." 

In  "Ratai"  (Katai)  a  flag  is  represented  reminding  of 
Marco  Polo,  and  near  this  the  legend  "His  magnus  Cham 
Tartarorum  et  Chataiae  imperator  longe  dominatur." 

In  this  Asiatic  region  we  find  such  names  as  "Tabin," 
"Ania,"   "Quinsai,"   "Catigara,"   "Zaiton,"    "India  Orien- 

[  202  ] 


Fig.  83.  Ivory  Terrestrial  Globe  of  Antonio  Spano,  1593. 


Last  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

talis."  "Stretto  Anian"  appears  as  a  long  channel.  In  Africa 
we  read,  "His  Imperator  magnus  Presbyter  Africae  Rex 
potentis  mus."  In  the  New  World  we  find  "America  sive 
India  nova,"  which  is  not  connected  with  Asia,  The  coast 
in  the  northern  regions  is  better  drawn  than  in  the  southern. 
The  St.  Lawrence  River  is  represented,  but  the  Great  Lakes 
are  omitted.  "Estland,"  "Frisland,"  and  "St.  Brandan"  are 
laid  down.  The  austral  land,  as  represented,  is  very  large, 
being  designated  "Terra  Australis:  Vastissimas  hie  esse 
regiones  ex  M.  Pauli  Ven.  et  Lud.  Vartomani  scriptis  peri- 
grinationibus  constat."  "Austral  land:  here  is  known  to  be  a 
very  extensive  region  referred  to  in  the  travel  records  of 
Marco  Polo  and  of  Ludovico  Vartema."  Mr.  Beazley  says 
of  the  globe  that  it  once  belonged  to  the  Kempenaer  family 
of  Leenwarden,  and  was  later  acquired  by  Mr.  H.  J. 
Pfungst  through  the  firm  of  Miller  &  Company  of  Amster- 
dam.^* It  later  passed  into  the  library  of  Mr.  Morgan. 

As  noted  at  the  beginning  of  this  chapter,  leadership  in 
globe  and  map  making,  in  the  closing  years  of  the  century, 
was  passing  into  the  Netherlands,  which  in  the  second  quar- 
ter of  the  century  had  contributed  in  this  field  of  scientific 
endeavor  the  great  Mercator.  His  influence,  as  was  also 
noted,  found  its  way  into  Italy  and  into  favor  with  certain 
globe  makers,  although  the  individualistic  spirit  of  the 
Italians  seemed  to  show  a  marked  preference  for  manuscript 
and  engraved  metal  globes.  In  the  front  rank  of  those  who 
were  to  lead  the  Low  Countries  into  their  place  of  preemi- 
nence stood  the  Van  Langren  family,  the  father.  Jacobus 
Florentius,  as  he  was  accustomed  to  call  himself,  and  the 
sons,  Amoldus  Florentius,  Henricus  Florentius,  and  Michael 
Florentius."  The  father  was  a  native  of  Denmark,  but 
sometime  prior  to  1 580  he  transferred  his  residence  to  Arn- 
hem  in  Gelderland,  and  later  to  Amsterdam.  Legends  on  his 
oldest  extant  globe  give  us  to  understand  that  at  the  time 
of  its  construction  he  labored  jointly  with  his  son  Arnold  in 
this  work,  these  legends  reading  "Jacobus  Florentius  Ultra- 

[  203  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

jectensis  autor,"  and  "Arnoldus  Florentius  filius  sculptor 
Amstelodami  1585,"  that  is,  the  father  was  the  author  and 
the  son  was  the  engraver. 

In  the  early  seventeenth  century  the  family  left  Amster- 
dam, going  to  Antwerp  in  the  Spanish  Netherlands.  Here 
in  the  year  1609,  according  to  an  Antwerp  record,  Arnold 
constructed  a  "Sphaera  Mundi,"  which  he  dedicated  to  the 
chief  magistrate  of  that  city,  receiving  therefor  120  Artois 
livres.  It  probably  was  not  long  after  this  date  that  he  was 
appointed  Globe  Maker  of  the  Archdukes,  a  title  he  retained 
until  the  death  of  the  Archduke  Albert  in  the  year  1621, 
and  a  somewhat  later  record  tells  us  that  he  was  honored 
shortly  after  that  event  by  an  appointment  to  the  office  of 
Royal  Cosmographer  and  Pensioner  of  His  Majesty  the 
Catholic  King.  Michael  became  a  resident  of  Brussels,  where 
he  carried  on  his  work  as  an  engraver,  particularly  of  maps, 
but  it  was  as  an  astronomer  that  he  won  special  distinction, 
having  given  much  attention  to  the  investigations  of  meth- 
ods for  the  determination  of  longitude  and  he  is  further 
credited  with  having  given  the  so-called  seas  of  the  moon 
the  names  by  which  they  are  still  known. 

As  globe  maker  perhaps  the  greater  honor  is  due  Jacobus 
Florentius,  since  it  appears  that  Arnold,  though  perhaps  the 
more  active,  reproduced  in  the  main  only  the  works  of  his 
father,  adding  improvement  here  and  there  and  endeavoring, 
perhaps  in  part  for  business  reasons,  to  keep  his  globe  maps 
up  to  date.  Reference  has  been  made  above  to  the  oldest 
extant  Van  Langren  globe,  which  bears  the  date  1585.  Van 
der  Aa  refers  to  a  request  of  Arnold  Floris  van  Langelaer 
and  of  his  father,  Jacob  Floris  van  Langelaer,  presented  to 
the  States  of  Gelderland  and  accompanying  a  copy  of  his 
globe,  which  seems  to  have  been  dated  1580.  Of  this  globe 
it  is  stated  that  it  was  "een  seer  correcte  ende  schoone 
Globum  terrestrem,  van  de  grootste  forme,"  and  that  it  was 
inscribed  as  is  that  of  the  year  1 585.  A  doubt,  however,  arises 
as  to  the  accuracy  of  the  date  1 580,  since  Van  der  Aa  states 

[  204  ] 


Fig.  84.  South  Polar  Region  on  Globe  of 
Antonio  Spano,   1593. 


^'"^■'^i,.-f 


Fig.  84a.  South  Polar  Region  on  Globe  of 
Jodocus  Hondius,  1600. 


Last  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

in  the  same  article  that  Arnoldus  was  born  in  the  year  1 57 1 . 
This  particular  globe  was  formerly  kept  in  the  "Geldersch 
Gerichtshof,"  as  Van  Hasselt  tells  us,  but  since  the  destruc- 
tion of  that  court  nothing  has  been  known  of  the  inventory 
of  the  objects  which  had  been  placed  therein.  In  support, 
however,  of  an  early  date,  perhaps  1580,  for  the  first  Van 
Langren  globe,  we  find  in  the  dedication  of  a  work  by 
Nicolas  Petri,  published  in  the  year  1588,  and  issued  as  a 
manual  for  the  use  of  globes,  that  it  was  especially  made 
for  the  use  of  a  Van  Langren  globe.  In  this  work  the  author 
is  represented  in  picture  in  the  act  of  examining  a  globe,  a 
picture  practically  the  same  as  that  appearing  in  a  work  by 
Petri  issued  in  the  year  1583.  It  seems,  therefore,  not  to  be 
an  erroneous  inference  that  the  author  gives  us  here  a  repre- 
sentation of  the  Van  Langren  globe  of  1 580,  which  is  want- 
ing much  in  the  accuracy  with  which  its  details  are  given. 
The  globe  of  1585,  referred  to  above  as  the  oldest  extant 
of  Van  Langren,  may  be  found  in  the  collection  of  the 
Museo  deir  Osservatorio  del  CoUegio  Romano  (Fig.  84). 
The  dedication  under  an  elaborately  colored  coat  of  arms 
of  Denmark  reads,  "Serenissimo  atque  potentissimo  Prin- 
cipi  Domino  D.  Christiano  nn.  Daniae  Norvegiae  Vanda- 
lorum  et  Gothorum  Regi  Duci  Slesvivi  Holsatiae  Stormariae 
et  Dithmortiae  Comiti  Oldenburgi  et  Del  menorsti  Jacobus 
Florentius  dedicabat."  "To  the  Most  Serene  and  mighty 
Prince  Lord  D.  Christian  King  of  Denmark,  Norway,  the 
Wends  and  the  Goths,  Duke  of  Schleswick  Holstein,  Stor- 
mam,  Ditmarsh,  Count  of  Oldenburg  and  Delmenhorst 
(this  globe)  is  dedicated  by  Jacobus  Florent."  The  usual 
letter  to  the  reader  or  to  the  one  who  might  have  occasion  to 
make  use  of  the  globe  gives  the  information:  "In  descrip- 
tione  hujus  globi  ubiq:  sequuti  sumus  castigatissimas  Tabu- 
las  geographicas  quibus  Hispani  et  Lusitani  in  suis  americis 
et  indicis  navigationibus  utantur;  aliorumque  probatissimas 
Septentrional  ium  regionum  descriptiones.  De  nostro  suis 
locis  addidimus  quadrata  ut  vocant  nautica  et  ventorum 

[  205  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

regiones  quae  omnia  ad  usum  navigantium  ad  amussim  ac- 
comodavimus  quaemadmodum  Geographiae  candidati  pro- 
pius  inspiciendo  reperient.  Vale  fruere."  "In  the  construc- 
tion of  this  globe  I  have  everywhere  made  use  of  the  most 
accurate  geographical  tables,  such  as  were  used  by  the 
Spaniards  and  the  Portuguese  in  their  voyages  to  America 
and  the  East  Indies ;  as  also  for  the  northern  regions  the  very 
best  drawings  of  others.  My  own  contribution  has  been  to 
insert  in  the  proper  places  the  nautical  squares,  as  they  are 
called,  and  the  directions  of  the  winds,  all  of  which  I  have 
carefully  adapted  to  the  need  of  the  navigator,  as  experts 
in  geography  will,  on  examination,  recognize.  Farewell  and 
may  you  be  happy."  In  a  cartouch  on  the  left  we  read 
"Jacobus  Florentius  Ultrajectensis  autor,"  and  on  the  right 
"Arnoldus  Florentius  filius  sculptor  Amstelodami  1585." 
The  sphere,  which  is  hollow,  is  constructed  of  wooden  strips 
covered  with  a  preparation  of  plaster.  It  has  a  diameter  of 
about  32  cm.  and  is  therefore  slightly  smaller  than  is  the 
Mercator  globe  of  1541.  It  is  furnished  with  a  graduated 
brass  meridian  circle  and  with  a  horizon  circle  of  the  same 
material,  which  is  supported  by  four  arms  or  quadrants 
upheld  by  a  simple  base.  The  engraved  gores  pasted  on  the 
ball  are  twelve  in  number  and  extend  to  within  twenty 
degrees  of  the  poles,  the  remaining  space  being  covered 
with  an  engraved  circular  disc,  in  accord  with  a  method  first 
employed  by  Mercator.  The  surface  of  the  globe  is  not  well 
preserved,  yet  notwithstanding  the  injuries  which  time  has 
brought  to  it,  it  remains  a  masterpiece  of  engraving  and 
a  valuable  geographical  record  of  that  early  day.  Its  numer- 
ous inscriptions  are  of  much  interest.  We  read,  for  example, 
in  latitude  35  degrees  south  and  longitude  185  degrees, 
"Vastissimas  hie  esse  regiones  ex  M.  Pauli  Veneti  et  Ludo- 
vico  Vartomanni  scriptis  peregrinationibus  liquido  constat." 
"The  voyage  of  Marco  Polo  and  of  Ludovico  Varthema 
make  it  certain  that  an  enormous  territory  exists  here." 
In  latitude  16  degrees  south  and  longitude  175  degrees  is 

[  206  ] 


Last  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

the  legend,  "Moluccae  vocantur  5  insulae  ordine  postiae 
juxta  Gilolo  quarum  suprema  Tarenare  deinceps  Tidore 
Motir  Machiam  et  infima  Bachiam."  "The  Moluccas  is  the 
name  given  to  the  five  islands  in  a  row  close  to  Gilolo,  the 
uppermost  of  which  is  Tarenare,  then  Tidore,  Motir, 
Machiam,  and  the  lowest  Bachiam."  In  latitude  10  degrees 
south  and  longitude  348  degrees  we  read,  "Maranon  fluvius 
investus  fuit  a  Vincentio  Yanes  Pinzon  an:  1499  et  an: 
1542  totus  a  fontibus  fere  ad  ostia  usq:  divulgatus  a  Fran- 
cesco Oregliana  leucis  1560  mensibus  8  dulces  in  mari  servat 
aquas  usque  40  leucis."  "The  Amazon  River  was  discovered 
by  Vicente  Yanez  Pinzon  in  1499,  while  in  1542  Francisco 
Orellana  explored  it  a  distance  of  1560  leagues  or  almost  its 
entire  length  from  source  to  mouth  in  eight  months.  In  the 
sea  its  waters  are  still  fresh  forty  leagues  from  land."  The 
following  is  placed  in  latitude  28  degrees  north  and  longi- 
tude 320  degrees,  "A.  D.  1492.  12  octobris  Christophorus 
Columbus  novam  Indiam  nomine  regis  Castellae  delexit, 
prima  terra  quam  conquisit  fuit  Haiti  nunc  Hispaniola." 
"October  12,  1492,  Christopher  Columbus  took  possession 
of  New  India  in  the  name  of  the  King  of  Castile.  The  first 
land  he  conquered  was  called  Haiti  now  called  Hispaniola." 
In  latitude  65  degrees  north  and  longitude  230  degrees  is 
the  legend,  "Regio  deserta  in  qua  equi  oves  et  boves  silves- 
tres  sunt  plurimi  quales  esse  in  una  Hebridum  insularum 
narratur."  "A  desert  country  in  which  there  are  a  great  many 
wild  horses,  sheep  and  cattle,  as  is  said  to  be  the  case  in  one 
of  the  Hebrides." 

That  this  Van  Langren  globe  was  well  received  by  his 
contemporaries  seems  to  be  witnessed  by  the  special  privi- 
lege granted  September  9,  1592,  to  Jacobus  Florentius  a 
Langren  by  the  Estates  of  Amsterdam  to  issue  the  same.^* 
On  presenting  his  request  for  the  privilege  the  author  states 
that  he  was  the  inventor  of  globes  of  this  character,  that  his 
globes  were  unsurpassed  in  the  matter  of  correctness  by  any 
which  had  been  previously  issued,  and  that  with  the  aid 

[  207  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

of  his  globes  certain  Dutch  navigators  had  sailed  to  Pemam- 
buco  in  Brazil,  to  the  island  of  St.  Thomas  under  the  equa- 
tor, to  the  Isle  de  Principe  and  to  other  places.  This  privilege 
was  renewed  to  him  and  to  his  sons  Arnoldus  and  Henricus 
in  the  year  1 596.  In  the  following  year  the  Estates  General 
granted  a  privilege  to  Jodocus  Hondius,  who  had  con- 
structed a  globe  in  England  in  the  year  1593,  of  which, 
however,  no  example  appears  now  to  be  known.  The  Van 
Langrens  contested  this  claim  at  law,  the  results  of  which 
contest  seem  not  to  be  recorded,  but  we  know  that  Jodocus 
Hondius  enumerated  at  this  time  what  he  considered  to  be 
the  particular  points  in  which  his  own  globes  excelled.^®  In 
his  report  he  enumerated  no  less  than  fourteen  important 
geographical  discoveries  which  were  not  represented  on  the 
globes  of  his  opponents,  the  Van  Langrens,  the  majority  of 
which,  as  corrections,  seem  to  have  been  accepted,  since  they 
appear  on  the  later  Van  Langren  globes  and  not  on  the 
earlier,  that  is,  on  the  one  of  1585. 

The  Kon.  Nederl.  Aardrijkskundig  Genootschap  has  re- 
cently come  into  possession  of  the  finest  known  example  of 
the  Van  Langren  globes  (Fig.  85),  as  indeed  it  is  one  of  the 
finest  extant  globes  of  that  period.*"  The  engraved  gores, 
twelve  in  number,  are  pasted  on  a  hollow  sphere  of  papier- 
mache  and  plaster,  having  a  diameter  of  52.8  cm.  It  is  fur- 
nished with  a  graduated  copper  meridian  circle  within  which 
it  is  adjusted  to  rdvolve,  a  horizon  circle  of  wood  on  which 
appear  the  names  of  the  winds  in  Greek,  Latin,  and  Dutch, 
the  names  of  the  months,  the  names  of  the  principal  feast 
days,  and  the  signs  of  the  zodiac,  the  whole  resting  on  a  base 
of  oak  having  six  supporting  columns.  As  an  example  of  the 
engraver's  art  the  map  which  covers  the  sphere  is  one  of 
superior  excellence.  A  manuscript  dedication,  pasted  on  its 
surface  near  the  "Mar  di  India"  and  surmounted  by  a  repre- 
sentation of  the  Spanish  coat  of  arms,  reads,  "Collegio  Ratio- 
ciniorum  Brabanti  regnantibus;  Alberto  et  Isabellae  Opt. 
Max.  Belgii  Principibus.  Singulari  observantia  Dedicabat 

[  208  ] 


Fig.  85.  Terrestrial  Globe  of  \'an  Langren,  1612. 


Last  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

Arnoldus  Florentinus  a  Langren.  Ano  Dni  1612."  "To  the 
College  of  Computations  of  Brabant,  to  Albert  and  Isabella, 
the  very  great  Princes  of  Belgium,  Arnold  Florentius  van 
Langren  dedicates  with  great  respect  (this  globe)  in  the  year 
1612."  Beneath  "Nova  Guinea"  is  given  the  privilege 
"Cautum  est  privilegio  ordinum  Confoederatorum  Inferioris 
Germaniae,  ne  quis  alius  ad  decennium  globum  hunc  terres- 
trem  absq.  consensu  Jacobi  Florentii  civis  Amsteldamen. 
typis  mandare  vel  simili,  vel  alia  forma  excudere,  vel  alibi  im- 
pressum  adducere,  aut  vendere  ausit,  sub  poena  in  diplomate 
statuta,  1608."  "Warning  is  given  by  the  privilege  (copy- 
right) of  the  Confederated  States  of  the  Netherlands  that 
no  other  individual  for  a  period  of  ten  years,  shall  venture 
to  print  in  similar  or  in  other  form,  to  stamp  (engrave)  or 
make  an  impression,  or  to  sell,  under  penalty  set  down  in 
the  diploma,  1608."  In  this  legend  the  date  1608  has  been 
written  over  the  engraved  date  1597. 

Among  the  legends  appearing  in  the  southern  hemisphere 
is  one  which  is  but  a  repetition  of  that  appearing  in  the  edi- 
tion of  1585  referring  to  the  source  of  information  begin- 
ning, "In  descriptio  hujus  .  .  ."  Beneath  the  artistic  car- 
touch  wherein  is  placed  the  last-named  legend  is  one  in 
which  are  recorded  the  names  of  the  author  and  the  engraver, 
"Jacobus  Florentius  Ultrajectensis  Author:  Arnoldus  Flo- 
rentius filius  sculptor  Amstelredami  Ao.  Dni,"  the  date,  par- 
tially erased  from  the  copper  plate  employed  in  the  print- 
ing, seems  to  read  1585.  Certain  regions  are  adorned  with 
pictures  in  which  are  represented  the  aborigines,  and  the  local 
fauna  and  flora.  Sea  monsters  constitute  a  part  of  the  deco- 
rative features  of  the  globe  map,  and  ships  sail  hither  and 
thither  over  the  oceans,  carrying  the  flags  of  their  respective 
countries.  The  author  has  laid  down  the  "Streto  de  Anian" 
which  separated  America  from  Asia,  and  California  is  a 
peninsula.  The  "Quivira  regnum"  is  made  to  include  a  part 
of  western  North  America,  and  the  great  stretch  of  country 
to  the  west  of  the  Mississippi  appears  to  be  the  home  of  wild 

[  209  1 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

horses  and  cattle.  The  eastern  coast  line  of  America  included 
within  the  present  limits  of  the  United  States  is  represented 
with  a  remarkable  approach  to  accuracy,  a  portion  of  his 
information  for  that  region  being  derived  from  the  report  of 
Thomas  Heriot.  Following  Mercator  there  have  been  placed 
four  large  islands  around  the  north  pole,  and  in  the  north 
Atlantic  "Frisland,"  "S.  Brandain,"  and  "Brasil."  India, 
Australia,  and  other  regions  of  the  Far  East  have  been  repre- 
sented with  remarkable  faithfulness  to  the  latest  and  best 
records  of  Dutch  navigators,  and  the  author  profited  by 
Dutch  records  of  exploration  in  his  representation  of  the 
Nova  Zembla  region.  There  is  yet  a  far  from  accurate  de- 
lineation of  the  great  eastern  archipelago.  Java,  Celebes, 
Borneo,  and  "Nova  Guinea"  have  been  fairly  well  outlined, 
and  about  the  south  pole  is  that  great  austral  continent  con- 
spicuous on  the  maps  of  the  period,  but  very  generally  out- 
lined as  the  fancy  of  the  map  maker  directed. 

In  the  library  of  the  University  of  Ghent  is  a  Van  Lan- 
gren  terrestrial  globe  undated  but  apparently  completed  not 
long  after  1616,  since  it  directs  attention  to  the  Strait  of  Le- 
maire,  discovered  in  that  year.  It  has  the  authors'  inscrip- 
tion "Jacobus  Florentius  Ultrajectensis  Author.  Amoldus 
Florentius  filius  sculptor  Amsterdam,"  and  bears  in  addi- 
tion the  legend  "Amoldus  Florentius  a  Langren,  Serenissum. 
Archiducu.  Austr.  Burgundiae,  Brabantiae,  Ducum,  Sphae- 
reographus  Author.  Cum  Privileg."  "Arnoldus  Florentius 
a  Langren  globe  maker  and  author  to  the  most  Serene  Arch- 
duke of  Austria,  of  Burgundy,  Duke  of  Brabant.  With  privi- 
lege." This  globe  is  described  as  one  well  preserved,  re- 
sembling very  closely  that  of  1612,  particularly  in  its 
geographical  details  as  well  as  in  its  mountings. 

The  Bibliotheque  Nationale  of  Paris  possesses  a  Van 
Langren  terrestrial  globe,  with  date  illegible,  but  thought 
to  be  1625,  which  appears  to  be  a  reissue  of  the  previous 
editions,  especially  of  the  later  ones.  A  legend  including  an 
address  to  the  reader  concludes  with  a  reference  to  the 

[  210  ] 


Last  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

author  "Amoldus  Florentio  a  Langren  Reg.  Cat.  Majis. 
cosmografo  et  pensionario."  "Amoldus  Florentius  a  Lan- 
gren, cosmographer  and  pensioner  of  His  Catholic  Majesty." 

There  are  two  globes  of  Arnoldus,  a  celestial  and  a  ter- 
restrial, formerly  in  the  Municipal  Archives  of  Antwerp, 
now  in  the  Plantin-Moritus  Museum.  An  inscription  on  the 
celestial  globe  reads:  "Globus  coelestis  stellarum  fixarum 
loca  ipsis  in  coelo  ad  amussim  congrua  repraesentans  ad 
annum  1600  juxta  accuratas  observationes  Tychonis  Brahe 
denuo  ad  annum  162-  diligentiss.  restitutus  novis  item  stel- 
lis  400  hactenus  non  notatis.  Ornatusque  trecentis  stellis 
circa  polum  antarcticum  ab  Houtmanno  Holando  observatis 
industria  Amoldi  Florentii  van  Langren  Cosmographici,  qui 
olim  observationibus :  Tyconis  interfuit.  Operam  sibi  filii 
parenti  felicissime  contulerunt."  "A  celestial  globe  which 
represents  the  position  of  the  fixed  stars,  corresponding  to 
the  actual  position  of  the  stars  in  the  sky  in  the  year  1600, 
following  the  accurate  observations  of  Tycho  Brahe  and 
with  great  care  again  calculated  for  the  year  162-:  also  400 
new  stars  are  added  which  had  not  hitherto  been  recorded. 
Also  there  have  been  added  300  south  polar  stars  that  were 
observed  by  Houtman  of  Holland.  Constructed  by  Arnold 
Florent  van  Langren,  cosmographer  who  assisted  Tycho  in 
his  observations.  The  sons  have  aided  their  father  with  the 
happiest  effect." 

The  terrestrial  globe,  in  a  much  better  state  of  preserva- 
tion, contains,  in  a  neat  cartouch,  an  address  to  the  reader, 
explaining  the  merits  of  the  globe  map:  "Quandoquidem 
quotidiana  diversarum  nationum,  praecipue  tamen  Holan- 
dorum  navigatione  omnes  mundi  plagas  perlustrantium, 
varii  orbis  tractus,  remotae  insulae  et  quamplurima  regna 
hactenenus  incognita  nunc  in  dies  innotuere,  et  quae  fuere 
cognita  majori  studio  et  situs  observatione  perlustrata  sunt. 
Prodit  hie  noster  Globus  multo  praecedentibus  a  nobis  edi- 
tis,  qui  primi  in  his  provinciis  prodierunt  accuratior  et  emen- 
datior.  In  quo  omnium  locorum  nomina,  et  quo  tempore,  et 

[  211  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

cujus  auspiciis  quaeque  detecta  sint  expressimus.  Curavimus 
praeterea  non  sine  magno  labore  et  cura,  ut  singulae  Re- 
giones,  Insulae,  Portus,  Braevia,  et  Scopuli  suae  longitudini 
et  latitudini  respondeant,  quibus  Indices  seu  lineas  vento- 
rum  ..."  "Inasmuch  as,  on  account  of  voyages,  daily  under- 
taken by  various  nations,  especially  the  Dutch,  who  have 
sailed  along  all  the  coasts  of  the  world,  the  various  regions 
of  the  earth,  distant  islands,  and  innumerable  countries  hith- 
erto unknown,  have  every  day  become  better  known  (addi- 
tional facts)  and  our  knowledge  of  those  already  discovered 
has  become  much  clearer  through  a  more  detailed  examina- 
tion and  detailed  observation,  this  present  globe  of  ours, 
presents  itself  to  the  public  as  one  much  more  exact,  more  free 
from  errors  than  those  previously  issued  by  us,  which  were  the 
first  ever  presented  to  the  public  of  these  provinces.  On  it  we 
have  recorded  the  names  of  all  places,  also  when  and  under 
whose  auspices  they  were  severally  discovered.  We  have 
taken  the  greatest  care  and  pains  to  make  the  location  of  the 
various  regions,  islands,  seaports,  shoals,  and  rocks  corre- 
spond to  the  true  latitude  and  longitude,  whereby  the  direc- 
tions of  the  winds  (loxodromic  lines)  .  .  ."  The  concluding 
lines  of  this  address  are  illegible,  but  there  seems  to  be  noth- 
ing of  special  importance  lost.  The  author's  signature  reads 
"Auctor  Arnoldo  Florentio  a  Langre  Reg.  Cat:  Ma^^^  Cos- 
mographo  et  Pensionario."  "Author  Arnoldus  Florentius  a 
Langren,  cosmographer  and  pensioner  of  His  Royal  Catholic 
Majesty." 

A  copy  of  a  Van  Langren  globe  may  be  found  in  the 
Museum  of  Ziitphen,  but  information  concerning  it  has  not 
been  obtainable  other  than  that  it  is  in  a  damaged  condi- 
tion, and  is  apparently  another  example  of  the  one  referred 
to  above  as  of  1612. 

Among  those  interested  in  geography,  in  astronomy,  and 
particularly  in  the  construction  of  armillary  spheres  in  this 
period  very  special  mention  should  be  made  of  Antonio 
Santucci.  For  some  time  he  served  Prince,  later  Grand  Duke, 

[  212  ] 


Last  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

Ferdinand  de'  Medici  as  his  cosmographer.  It  was  during  this 
period  of  service  that  he  restored  the  famous  terrestrial  globe 
of  Egnazio  Danti  which  was  a  particularly  creditable  piece 
of  work.  In  the  year  1582  he  constructed  a  large  armillary 
sphere  composed  of  wooden  rings,  very  artistically  gilded 
and  painted,  representing  in  particular  the  orbits  of  the 
planets.  This  the  Prince  is  said  to  have  presented  to  one 
Battaglioni  of  Naples;  further  than  this  fact  nothing  seems 
to  be  known  of  this  particular  example.  In  the  year  1606, 
we  are  informed,  he  collected  and  sent  to  the  Grand  Duke 
a  number  of  valuable  maps  relating  to  Europe,  Asia,  Africa, 
and  the  West  Indies,  and  to  the  several  separate  countries 
of  Europe.  In  the  year  1619  he  published,  through  the  favor 
of  Duke  Ferdinand,  a  treatise  on  comets  and  the  new  stars 
appearing  between  the  years  1577  and  1607.  What  is  prob- 
ably the  finest  of  all  his  spheres  belongs  to  the  Museo  di 
Strumenti  Antichi  of  Florence,  which  has  been  restored 
and  interestingly  described  by  the  distinguished  scholar, 
Ferdinand  Meucci."  As  an  instrument  intended  to  represent 
the  entire  universe,  though  constructed  for  display  rather 
than  for  use,  it  remains  one  of  the  finest  constructed  in  the 
peninsula  during  the  century. 

The  largest  of  its  nine  concentric  circles  has  a  diameter 
of  220  cm.,  the  smallest  a  diameter  of  70  cm.,  and  at  the 
common  center  is  a  terrestrial  globe  having  a  diameter  of 
60  cm.  Each  of  the  nine  great  circles  or  spheres  has  its  own 
smaller  circles  representing  the  equator,  the  ecliptic,  the 
colures,  and  the  polar  circles,  the  ninth  having  also  the 
tropics  and  the  hour  circle.  The  eighth,  representing  the 
starry  heavens,  has  its  ecliptic  four  times  the  width  of  the 
corresponding  circles  of  the  other  spheres.  Meucci  states,  in 
his  detailed  description,  that  there  are  no  less  than  eighty- 
two  armillae  or  rings,  large  and  small,  to  which,  he  adds, 
eight  larger  ones  might  be  added,  these  being  cut  in  half 
and  arranged  somewhat  in  the  form  of  a  cup,  the  lower  half 
supporting  the  horizon  circle,  the  upper  half  serving  as  a 

[  213  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

support  for  an  adjustable  cover  of  the  entire  instrument. 
This  arrangement  suggests  that  it  was  the  author's  intention 
to  have  these  last-named  half  circles  represent  the  empyrean 
or  home  of  the  celestial  spirits,  a  thought  supported  by  the 
fact  that  at  the  common  intersecting  point  of  the  upper  half 
of  these  circles  is  placed  a  disc  on  which  is  represented  the 
Deity  in  the  act  of  contemplating  his  creation.  The  whole 
instrument  is  topped  by  a  cross. 

Meucci,  in  referring  to  his  own  work  of  restoring  and  re- 
mounting the  great  sphere,  observes  that  at  the  poles  of  the 
ecliptic  there  are  two  discs  on  which  have  been  painted  the 
coat  of  arms  of  the  Medici  family  together  with  the  coat 
of  arms  of  the  Lorena,  Christina  di  Lorena  being  the  wife  of 
Ferdinand,  to  whom  the  work  had  been  dedicated.  He  fur- 
ther notes  that  his  researches  led  him  to  the  discovery  that 
the  instrument  originally  cost  1052.2  scudi,  which,  with  an 
incidental  addition  of  170  scudi,  thought  proper  to  be  in- 
cluded in  the  reckoning,  would  make  the  entire  expense  of 
construction  1222.2  scudi  or  about  7187  liri,  that  is,  less 
than  $1400.  The  amount  seems  insignificant,  remembering 
that  the  work  was  begun  in  the  year  1 588  and  was  not  com- 
pleted until  the  year  1593,  claiming  therefore  five  years  of 
the  maker's  time.  The  map  on  the  terrestrial  globe  seems  to 
have  been  well  drawn,  and  is  remarkable  for  its  representa- 
tion of  the  geography  of  the  interior  of  Africa,  particularly 
for  the  region  about  the  source  of  the  Nile. 

In  the  library  of  Mr.  Henry  E.  Huntington  may  be  found 
an  exceedingly  fine  armillary  sphere  (Fig.  86).  It  is  neither 
signed  nor  dated,  but  there  appears  to  be  good  reason  for 
attributing  it  to  Antonio  Santucci,  and  its  date  to  about  the 
year  1580.  Constructed  entirely  of  wood,  with  paper  iden- 
tifying labels  pasted  on  the  surface  of  each  of  the  numerous 
circles,  it  is  a  well-preserved  example  of  Italian  workman- 
ship. It  is  furnished  with  horizon,  meridian,  tropical,  polar, 
and  ecliptic  circles,  the  first  being  graduated  on  both  the 
outer  and  the  inner  edge.  This  horizon  circle  has  a  diameter 

[  214  ] 


Fig.  86.  Armillary  Sphere  of  Antonio  Santucci  ( "?), 
ca.  1580. 


Last  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

of  about  50  cm.,  and  a  width  of  about  7  cm.,  the  width  of 
the  other  circles  being  well  proportioned  for  artistic  effect. 
Within  the  circles  named  are  those  representing  the  orbits  of 
"Luna,"  "Mercurio,"  "Venere,"  "Sole,"  "Marte,"  "Giove," 
"Satumo,"  with  the  earth  at  the  center  according  to  the 
Ptolemaic  system.  It  has  a  single  standard  support  resting  on 
a  solid  circular  disc  about  33  cm.  in  diameter. 

The  Mathematisch-Physikal.  Salon  of  Dresden  possesses 
a  fine  celestial  globe  signed  and  dated  "B.  F.  1600."  It  is  an 
exceedingly  elaborate  piece  (Fig.  87),  being  made  of  gilded 
bronze  and  furnished  with  a  mounting  of  ornamental  design. 
The  sphere,  having  a  diameter  of  11.6  cm.,  exhibits  on  its 
engraved  surface  in  outline  the  figures  of  the  several  con- 
stellations, with  the  name  of  each,  and  in  addition  the  prin- 
cipal celestial  circles  including  the  meridians.  It  is  furnished, 
in  its  mountings,  with  a  graduated  bronze  meridian  circle 
to  which  is  attached,  near  the  north  equatorial  pole,  a  clock 
dial  with  hour  and  minute  hands,  the  dial  being  marked 
with  the  hours  from  I  to  XII.  Surmounting  the  whole  is  an 
artistic  bronze  box,  within  which  have  been  placed  the  works 
by  means  of  which  the  clock  is  driven  and  the  sphere  made 
to  revolve.  The  broad  horizon  circle,  which  is  engraved  with 
the  usual  concentric  circles,  rests  upon  branched  supports, 
which  in  turn  are  attached  to  a  finely  wrought  base  having 
four  curved  legs  terminating  in  conventionally  designed 
griffin  claws. 

Though  differing  very  considerably  in  the  details  of  its 
construction,  it  may  be  classed  with  such  globes  as  are  those 
made  by  Roll  and  Reinhold,  briefly  described  above.  In- 
deed, the  suggestion  forces  itself  upon  one  that  to  their 
workshop  or  to  one  who  may  be  referred  to  as  a  workman  of 
their  school,  we  owe  this  interesting  example.  Attention  has 
been  previously  called  to  certain  early  globes  which  seem 
primarily  to  have  been  constructed  to  contain  the  works  of 
clocks  such  as  the  Jagellonicus.  Here  as  in  the  case  of  the 
Roll  and  Reinhold  globes,  and  as  in  certain  other  examples, 

[  215  ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

we  find  clockwork  attachments  designed  to  regulate  the 
revolutions  of  the  globe  of  which  they  form  a  part.  While 
the  globe  is  the  more  elaborately  wrought  part  of  this  par- 
ticular example,  it  does  not  seem  improbable  that  the  clock 
originally  was  considered  to  be  the  more  important  part. 


NOTES 

1.  See  Chap.  X. 

2.  Kastner.  Geschichte  der  Mathematik.  Vol.  II,  pp.  215  ff.;  Wolf,  R. 
Notizen  zur  Geschichte  der  Mathematik  in  der  Schweiz,  "Conrad  Dasypo- 
dius."  (In:  Mitteilung  der  naturforschenden  Gesellschaft  zu  Bern.  Bern, 
1845.  No.  56.)  ;  Allgemeine  deutsche  Biographie,  "Dasypodius,  Conrad." 

3.  Doppelmayr.   Historische    Nachricht.   p.   51. 

4.  Schricker,  A.  Z.  Zur  Geschichte  der  Universitat  Strassburg.  Strassburg, 
1872 ;  Heitz,  E.  Zur  Geschichte  der  alten  Strassburger  Universitat.  Strass- 
burg, 1885. 

5.  The  British  Museum  Catalogue  lists  many  of  these  works. 

6.  Wolf,  R.  Nachrichten.  (In:  Mitteilung  der  naturforschenden  Gesell- 
schaft zu  Bern.  Bern,  1854.  p.  69.)  ;  Doppelmayr,  op.  cit.,  p.  115;  Habrecht, 
I.  Tractatus  de  planiglobis  coelestis  ac  terrestris.  Strassburg,   1628. 

7.  Doppelmayr,  op.  cit.,  p.  208. 

8.  Montucla,  J.  E.  Histoire  des  Mathematiques  .  .  .  Paris,   1799-1802. 

9.  Dasypodius,  C.  Horologii  astronomei  Argentorati  in  summo  templo 
erecti  descriptio.  Argentorati,  1580;  same  author.  Warhafftige  Auslegung 
des  astronomischen  Uhrwercks  zu  Strassburg.  Strassburg,  1580. 

10.  Schwilgue,  C.  Description  abregee  de  I'horologe  astronomique  de  la 
cathedrale  de  Strassbourg.  Strassbourg,  1856. 

u.  Britten,  F.  J.  Old  clocks  and  watches  and  their  makers.  London,  1899. 

12.  Varnhagen,  A.  de.  J.  Schoner  e  P.  Apian.  Wien,  1872;  Giinther,  S. 
Peter  und  Philipp  Apian,  zwei  deutsche  Mathematiker  und  Kartographen. 
Prag,  1882 ;  Nordenskiold.  Facsimile  Atlas,  p.  100. 

In  the  year  1520  Peter  Apianus  published  in  his  edition  of  Solinus' 
Polyhistor  a  world  map,  following  therein  the  general  design  of  Waldsee- 
miiller  in  his  world  map  of  the  year  1507.  The  map  of  Apianus  has  long 
been  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  important  of  the  early  printed  maps  on 
which  the  New  World  is  represented.  Until  the  recent  discovery  by  Pro- 
fessor Joseph  Fischer  of  Waldseemiiller's  long-lost  map,  it  has  frequently 
been  referred  to  as  the  first  engraved  map  on  which  the  name  "America" 
appears.  The  'Cosmographia'  of  Apianus,  first  issued  in  the  year  1524,  was 
frequently  reissued  thereafter,  notably  by  Gemma  Frisius. 

13.  Clemens,  C.  Musei,  sive  bibliothecae  tarn  privatae  quam  publicae 
extructio.  Lugduni,  1635.  Liber  Quartus.  p.  527. 

14.  Kepler,  J.  Joannis  Kepleri  Opera  Omnia.  Ed.  by  Frisch.  Frankfurt, 
1858.  Vol.  I,  p.  812. 

[    216   ] 


Fig.  87.  Celestial  Globe  of  B.  F.,  1600. 


Last  Quarter  of  the  Sixteenth  Century. 

15.  Gemelin,  L.  Untersatz  eines  Globus  von  Philipp  Apian.  (In:  Stutt- 
garter  Gewerbhalle.  Stuttgart,  1885.  Taf.  62.)  ;  Gunther,  S.  Die  Munchener 
Globen  Philipp  Apians.  (In:  Jahrbuch  fiir  miinchener  Geschichte.  Miin- 
chen,  1888.  pp.  131-148.) 

16.  Giinther.  Die  Miinchener  Globen.  p.  132. 

17.  Zimmermann,  M.  Hans  Miielich  und  Herzog  Albrecht  V.  Munchen, 
iSS?.  The  author  thinks  it  hardly  probable  that  Miielich  was  the  artist 
employed  in  the  decoration  of  these  globes,  but  praises  the  excellent  work- 
manship exhibited.  Kobolt,  A.  M.  Bairisches  Gelehrten-Lexikon.  Landshut, 
1795-  PP-  52  ff.;  also  in  his  Erganzungen  und  Berichtigungen.  Landshut, 
1824.  p.  21. 

18.  Fiorini.  Sfere  terrestri  e  celesti.  p.  221.  The  author  briefly  describes 
the  Plautus  globes.  The  information  contained  therein  was  also  kindly  sent 
for  insertion  in  this  work  by  the  director  of  the  Museum. 

19.  Gerland.  Bcitrage.  p.  69.  See  Chap,  viii,  n.  21. 

20.  Fiorini,  op.  cit.,  pp.  200-202. 

21.  Gassendi,  P.  Tychonis  Brahei  equitis  Dani  astronomorum  coryphaei 
vita.  Hagae,  1655 ;  Dreyer,  J.  L.  E.  Tycho  Brahe,  a  picture  of  scientific  life 
and  work  in  the  sixteenth  century.  Edinburgh,  1890;  Brahe,  T.  Astronomiae 
instauratae  mechanica.  Noribergae,  1602;  Brahe,  T.  Epistolarum  astro- 
nomicarum  libri.  Uraniburgi,  1596;  Brahe,  T.  Tychonis  Brahe  mathim: 
eminent:  Dani  Opera  Omnia.  Ed.  by  J.  G.  Schonvetteri,  Francofurti,  1648; 
Wolf.  Geschichte  der  Astronomic,  pp.  269-281  ;  Kastner.  Geschichte  der 
Mathematik.  Vol.  II,  pp.  376-411. 

22.  Dreyer,  op.  cit.,  Chaps,  v,  vi. 

23.  Tyconis   Brahe  astronomiae   instauratae   Mechanica. 

24.  Raemdonck.  Les  spheres  terrestres.  p.  28 ;  Chatel,  M.  Note  sur  une 
globe  terrcstre  .  .  .  de  la  sviccession  de  Titon  du  Tillet.  (In:  Memoirc 
lus  a  la  Sorbonne.  Paris,  1865.  pp.  161-170.) 

25.  Marcel,  G.  Note  sur  une  sphere  terrestre  faite  en  cuivre  a  la  fin  du 
XVI*'  Siecle.  (In :  Bulletin  de  la  Societe  normande  de  Geographic.  Rouen, 
1891.  pp.  i53->^'0.) 

26.  Humboldt,  A.  Examen  Critique.  Paris,  1836-1839.  Vol.  II,  pp.  152-155; 
Harrisse.  Discovery,  pp.  657-658. 

27.  Hakluyt,  R.  The  principal  Navigations,  Voyages  and  Discoveries  of 
the  English  Nation.  London,  1589. 

28.  Hood,  D.  The  use  of  both  the  Globes,  celestial  and  terrestrial,  most 
plainly  delivered  in  the  form  of  a  dialogue.  London,  1592. 

29.  Blundeville,  T.  Mr.  Blundeville  his  Exercises.  London,  1594. 

30.  See  above,  p.  193. 

31.  The  several  editions  of  this  work  are  given  by  Markham,  C.  Hues, 
Treatise  on  Globes,  pp.  xxxvii-xl. 

32.  Allgemeine  deutsche  Biographic  "Biirgi,  Jobst" ;  Doppelmayr,  op.  cit., 
p.  163  ;  Wolf,  R.  Biirgi.  (In :  Biograph.  z.  Kulturgeschichte,  1  Zyklus,  pp. 
57  ff.)  ;  Weidler,  F.  Historia  astronomiae,  Vitembergae,  1741.  p.  375;  Ger- 
land, op.  cit.,  p.  68. 

33.  Marcel,  G.  Note  sur  une  mission  geographique  en  Suisse.  (In:  Bulletin 
de  la  Societe  de  Geographic.  Paris,   1899.  pp.  76-94-) 

34.  Fischer,  J.  The  globe-goblet  of  Wolfegg.  (In:  United  States  Catholic 
Historical  Society  Historical  Records  and  Studies.  New  York,  1913.  pp.  275- 
279.)  See  for  mention  of  other  Gessner  globe  cups. 

[    217    ] 


Terrestrial  and  Celestial  Globes. 

35.  A  sixteenth  century  globe  cup.  (In:  Royal  Geographical  Journal. 
London,  1919.  pp.  196-197.)  This  particular  globe  of  Gessner  was  sold  at 
Christie's  in  London,  July  23,  1919,  for  £3800.  It  is  thought  to  have  been 
made  in  the  year  1595.  Attention  is  called  in  this  article  to  a  globe  cup  in  the 
British  Museum,  dated  1569. 

36.  Beazley,  C.  R.  Globe  of  1593.  (In:  Royal  Geographical  Journal. 
London,   1904.  pp.  496-498.) 

37.  Poggendorff,  J.  C.  Biographisch-literarisches  Handworterbuch.  Leip- 
zig, 1863 ;  Kastner,  op.  cit.,  p.  393 ;  Genard,  P.  Les  Globes  du  geographe 
Arnauld  Florent  van  Langren  et  de  Guill.  Blaeu.  (In:  Bulletin  de  la 
Societe  Royale  Geographic  d'Anvers.  Anvers,  1883.  pp.  150  ff.;  Van  der  Aa. 

38.  Wieder,  F.  C.  De  Globe  van  Van  Langren  A°  1612.  (In:  Kon. 
Nederlandsch  Aardrijkskundig  Genootschap,  2^  Serie  Dl.  XXXII,  1915, 
pp.  231-239.) 

39.  Jonge,  J.  K.  J.  de.  Opkomst  van  het  Nederlandsch  gezag  in  Oost- 
Indie.  Gravenhage,  1862.  Vol.  I,  p.  179.  The  author  gives  here  a  report 
rendered  by  J.  Hondius  in  which  he  refers  to  the  superiority  of  his  globes 
to  those  of  Van  Langren.  The  report  is  dated  1597. 

40.  Wieder,  op.  cit.,  n.  36  above,  is  a  description  of  this  globe  with  illus- 
trations. 

41.  Meucci,  F.  La  Sfera  armillere  di  Tolomeo  construita  da  Antonia  San- 
tucci.  Firenze,  1876. 


[  218  ] 


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